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- She joined the Central University of Punjab as a founding faculty member in 2009 and has built a distinguished career focused on comparative literature, Punjabi poetry, folklore, and interdisciplinary literary studies.
- Professor Kaur, who serves as a professor (and former Dean) at the School of Languages, Literature and Culture in the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, joined BFSU on March 7.
- The prestigious institution has appointed Professor Zameerpal Kaur Sandhu Bajwa, a renowned academic from Bathinda, Punjab, as a foreign expert in South Asian Studies and Punjabi language for the 2026-27 academic session.
Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) in China has introduced Punjabi as its 102nd foreign language in the curriculum. The prestigious institution has appointed Professor Zameerpal Kaur Sandhu Bajwa, a renowned academic from Bathinda, Punjab, as a foreign expert in South Asian Studies and Punjabi language for the 2026-27 academic session.
Professor Kaur, who serves as a professor (and former Dean) at the School of Languages, Literature and Culture in the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, joined BFSU on March 7. She has already begun teaching, with 12 Chinese students currently enrolled in introductory Punjabi classes under her guidance.
BFSU, known as one of China’s leading centres for foreign language education, now offers programmes in 102 languages, including other Indian languages such as Hindi, Tamil, and Urdu. The addition of Punjabi reflects growing academic interest in South Asian cultures and languages beyond the more commonly studied ones.
In her new role, Professor Kaur will not only teach the Punjabi language but also deliver lectures on Punjabi history and culture. A key part of her responsibilities includes training Chinese faculty members to independently teach Punjabi in the future, ensuring the programme’s long-term sustainability at the university.
Professor Kaur brings extensive expertise to the position. She holds a PhD from Punjabi University, Patiala, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the University Grants Commission of India. She joined the Central University of Punjab as a founding faculty member in 2009 and has built a distinguished career focused on comparative literature, Punjabi poetry, folklore, and interdisciplinary literary studies.
This appointment highlights the increasing global recognition of Punjabi as a vibrant language with rich literary and cultural heritage. It also strengthens academic ties between India and China in the field of language and cultural studies.
