中央美术学院是中华人民共和国教育部直属的唯一一所高等美术学校。2018年建校百年之际，总书记给学校8位老教授回信，明确新时代美术教育及美育工作的方向及重要作用，提出扎根时代生活、绘就大美之艺、弘扬中华美育精神的殷切期望。
为贯彻落实总书记回信精神，学校以实际行动探索世界一流美术学院的新形态、新思维和新路径，进一步加强学科建设，深化交流合作，立足于高端国际人才培养和大众艺术教育普及需求的战略高度，决定成立中央美术学院国际学院（CAFA International College），由北京中央美术学院资产经营管理有限公司负责总体运营。
THE CENTRAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS (CAFA) IS THE ONLY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR FINE ARTS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. THE REPLY LETTER FROM GENERAL SECRETARY XI JINPING TO EIGHT SENIOR CAFA PROFESSORS ON THE OCCASION OF THE CENTENARY OF CAFA’S FOUNDING IN 2018 CLARIFIES THE DIRECTION AND SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF ARTS AND AESTHETIC EDUCATION IN THE NEW ERA, AND RAISES THE ARDENT EXPECTATIONS THAT ARTS TAKE ROOTS IN LIFE TO REFLECT THE TREND OF THE TIMES, EFFORTS BE MADE TO EXPLORE THE ART OF GREAT AND TRUE BEAUTY, AND CHINA’S FINEST AESTHETIC TRADITIONS BE CARRIED FORWARD.
ACTING ON THE GUIDANCE OFFERED BY GENERAL SECRETARY XI JINPING’S REPLY LETTER, CAFA HAS TAKEN PRACTICAL ACTIONS TO EXPLORE NEW FORMATS, PERSPECTIVES AND PATHWAYS FOR A WORLD-CLASS ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE DISCIPLINARY CONSTRUCTION, AND DEEPEN EXCHANGES AND COOPERATION. IT IS IN THAT SPIRIT AND FROM A STRATEGIC STANDPOINT ON CULTIVATING HIGH-END INTERNATIONAL TALENTS AND MEETING THE PUBLIC’S NEED FOR UNIVERSAL ARTS EDUCATION THAT CAFA DECIDED TO SET UP THE CAFA INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE (CAFAIC), WHOSE OVERALL OPERATION IS RUN BY THE BEIJING CAFA ASSETS MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
