Partner Institution Profiles

Sichuan University

Sichuan University (SCU) situated in Chengdu, in the western province of Sichuan, is one of the national key universities directly under the State Ministry of Education (MOE) and one of the State “Project 211” universities. Sichuan University (SCU) was incorporated in 1994 with Chengdu University of Science and Technology (CUST), and West China University of Medical Science (WCUMS) in 2000. As the largest university in the southwest of China, Sichuan University enjoys a deep cultural background and eminent scholarly research tradition dating back to 1896.

The former Sichuan University was one of the earliest institutes of higher learning in China, with a history dating back to Sichuan Zhong-Xi Xuetang (Sichuan Chinese and Western School), established in 1896. By 1949, Sichuan University had developed into the biggest national multidisciplinary university with 6 colleges of literature, science, engineering, agriculture, law and teachers training, and 25 departments. Sichuan University is one of the pioneers of modern Chinese higher education, playing a demonstrating role in the development of the modern higher education in West China. It currently has the widest variety of study disciplines and the largest scale of operation in western China.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University 

Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) is one of the most prestigious universities in China, jointly run by the Ministry of Education and Shanghai Municipality. SJTU enjoys a reputation of being a leading institution in research and higher education in China. At present, the university comprises 20 academic schools, two directly affiliated departments and one graduate school. It also has a School of Continuing (adult) Education, School of Online Learning, School of International Education, and a Vocational School. There are 60undergraduate programs, 179 master-degree programs, 6 professional master-degree programs, 22 disciplines and 143 sub-disciplines authorized to confer PhD degrees, 23 post-doctorate programs, 22 state key doctorate programs and six state key laboratories and four national engineering centres. Its total enrolment of full-time students amounts to over 38,000.

SJTU has invited more than 100 famous scientists and specialists as honourable professors or consulting professors, including the Nobel Prize winners and physicists Yang Zhenning, Li Zhengdao and Ding Zaozhong. SJTU sends teachers and students abroad every year to give lectures, to study or to attend international academic conferences. SJTU also invites foreign specialists and scholars to give lectures or to have academic exchanges. Shanghai Second Medical University merged with SJTU in July 2005 to be known as the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical School.

Tsinghua University 

Tsinghua University, located in the north western suburbs of Beijing, was established in 1911 on the site of "Qing Hua Yuan" - a former royal garden of the Qing Dynasty. Funded with part of the "Boxer Indemnity," it was at first a preparatory school called "Tsinghua Xuetang" for those students who were sent by the government to study in the United States.

Tsinghua School of Economics and Management founded in 1984, was the first economics and management school in China. Professor Zhu Rongji, the Founding Dean, later became the fifth Premier of the People’s Republic of China. Tsinghua SEM is now one of the premier business schools in Asia and enjoys world-class faculty, students and research centres.

The Tsinghua MBA program is one of the most prestigious programs in the People's Republic of China, which was first launched in 1991. The International MBA program is an English program taught in collaboration with MIT Sloan School of Management. Overseas students account for one-third in this program. Both MIT Sloan and Tsinghua SEM provide International MBA Program candidates with greater opportunities to learn international communication skills, to gain access to international business practices and to develop a better understanding of China’s role in world affairs. Tsinghua SEM MBA graduates have become active participants in the development of China’s economy. Currently, Tsinghua SEM has built up student exchange programs with over 50 universities from 19 countries.

University of International Business and Economics

The University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), situated in China's capital Beijing, was founded in 1951 as the Beijing Institute of Foreign Trade. In 1960 it was designated as a key university by the government for its outstanding programs. In May 1997, UIBE was put on the list of "Project 211" universities. In 2000, UIBE became one of the state universities under the leadership of the Ministry of Education. In June of the same year it merged with China Institute of Finance and has since then become one of the leaders in the studies of business and finance.

UIBE consists of over 20 academic schools, departments and research centres. Among the 30 bachelor, master and doctoral programs that UIBE offers, International Trade, International Economic Law, English Language and International Business Management have been designated as key programs under "Project 211".

At present, UIBE has a total enrolment of more than 20,000 students coming from 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China as well as over 30 countries and regions in the world. The university invites dozens of foreign academic professionals to teach or lecture every year in addition to its 1,400 teaching and administrative staff members who carry out its regular curricula.

UIBE is one of the first universities in China to have initiated academic exchanges with foreign academic institutions. Currently UIBE has exchange programs with over 100 universities and institutes in more than 30 countries or regions around the world.

Renmin University 

Renmin University (also known as the People’s University of China) was established in 1937, during the resistance war against Japanese aggression. The University acquired its present name on October 3, 1950, which made it the first university to be established by the newly founded People's Republic of China. With undergraduate education as the base, and an emphasis on postgraduate education, the RUC has formed a multi-dimensional structure and multilevel system in education and research.

As an important research institution in the humanities and social sciences in China, the RUC is playing an active role in research into major issues in politics, economics, and social studies. The role the RUC has played, and the contributions RUC has made to China, have provided a strong theoretical underpinning and intellectual support for China's economic construction and social development. Between 2000 and 2004, RUC received 118 provincial and ministerial level research awards. In the same period, the RUC has secured 137 competitive projects from the National Social Sciences Foundation, and won the bidding for 175 humanities and social science projects from the Ministry of Education.

Beijing Normal University 

Beijing Normal University was the earliest established teacher training university in China, growing out of the Faculty of Education of the Metropolitan University founded in 1902. Named Beijing Normal University in 1923, BNU enrols 16,000 full time students including 8,000 under graduates and 7,000 masters degree and doctoral candidates.

BNU was among the first universities to be designated as a member of the Ministry of Education’s “Project 211” in 2002, a governmental program aimed at turning about 100 Chinese universities into exceptionally high quality academic institutions in the new century. In the same year, the Ministry of Education and Beijing Municipality signed an agreement to support the university to become a globally renowned institution. Currently, the university has 27 schools and departments and 12 institutes.

Jiangnan University (formerly Southern Yangtze University)

Jiangnan University (formerly known as Southern Yangtze University) in Wuxi, China has a history of over 100 years. Jiangnan offers study in the disciplines of engineering, science, literature, economics, management law, medicine, agriculture and education. There are currently 19,400 undergraduate students, 4600 graduate students and 400 international students studying at Jiangnan University. It is also part of “Project 211” initiative and functions directly under the Ministry of Education.

“Learning and practice to perfection”, the school motto, sums up the values and code of conduct of both faculty and students. The motto expresses the university’s philosophy of imparting theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills; emphasizing accomplishments in the sciences as well as achievements in the humanities; seeking truth as well as pursuing excellence through innovation.

Jiangnan University, with its century of achievements in several key disciplines, is now striving for even greater success with the ultimate goal of becoming a high level comprehensive university of international reputation.