Fujian Normal University

Fujian Normal University (FNU), a century-old university based in Fuzhou, a historic cultural city known as “Land of Culture on the Coast”, is a time-honored and well-acclaimed provincial institution of higher learning. Founded as Fujian Superior Normal School in 1907 by the famous late-Qing scholar Chen Baochen, who once served as the teacher of China’s last emperor, the present day FNU went through a few changes—merging with the former Hwa-Nan Women’s College of Arts and Sciences, Fukien Christian University and Fujian Provincial Teachers School respectively—to form Fujian Teachers College in 1953. In 1972, the University was renamed Fujian Normal University and has been thus referred to since then. In 2012, the Ministry of Education and Fujian government began to jointly support the development of the University. FNU was designated as provincial high-level university for prioritized construction in 2014 and as provincial first-class university in 2018. The vicissitudes in its century-old history notwithstanding, a fine scholarly tradition has been inherited and sustained by generation after generation of its faculty and students. FNU is proud to count among its teaching staff quite a few internationally renowned scientists and men of letters, including Ye Shengtao, Guo Shaoyu, Dong Zuobin, Lin Lanying, Zheng Zuoxin, Huang Weiyuan, Tang Zhongzhang, Tang Chongti, and Yao Jiannian. A traditional and innovative commitment to academic excellence by its teachers and students alike, unswerving even at times of trials and adversities, has given rise to a distinctive ethos embodied in FNU’s motto–To Know and to Act, with Devotion and with Aspiration. Inspired by its pledge to always “teach earnestly, study diligently, seek truth and promote innovation,” the University has been forging ahead and making remarkable achievements, including winning the title of “National Civilized Institution”, “National Civilized Campus” and other high-level titles and honors.As you sow, so shall you reap. Since its establishment, FNU has graduated over 500,000 of students talented at various levels and of diversified types, thus making a tremendous contribution to the economic and social development of the province and the country. Currently the University proper consists of two campuses: Qishan and Cangshan, with a total land area of about 260 hectares. FNU offers 87 undergraduate programs (77 of which enrolled students in 2020). Currently there are over 23,000 full time undergraduate students, over 7000 graduate students of various types, and 1800-strong teaching and auxiliary staff on the main campuses. Its faculty counts 59.06% full or associate professors and 60.01% doctorate degree holders. The honorific titles and recognitions received by such a pool of excellent talent include one member of the Eurasian Academy of Sciences, three adjunct academicians, and nine scholars selected by Ten Thousand Talent Program (Program of Global Experts), four professors and three young scholars sponsored by Changjiang Scholar Awards, eight by National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (including overseas) and seven by National Excellent Youth Science Foundation, three members or conveners of the subject-specific advisory groups under the State Council Commission for Regulating Academic Degrees, one convener of the Expert Panel of National Post-Doctor Regulatory Commission, nine state-level young experts of outstanding achievements, eight faculty members selected by the New Century Talent Project, one “Huang Danian Style Research Team”, three state-level excellent teaching groups, two “Distinguished Teachers”, five “Celebrated Cultural Experts”, one “Leading Talent” of Youth Science and Technology Innovation under the Ministry of Science and Technology, two innovation teams under the Ministry of Education, 17 faculty members supported by New Century Excellent Talent in University, and 133 scholars of State Council Allowance throughout the years. FNU publishes a long list of scholarly journals, including The Journal of Fujian Normal University (the humanities and social sciences edition), The Journal of Fujian Normal University (the natural sciences edition), both are designated as “core periodicals published in Chinese”. The former edition has been listed as one of the “journals of renowned columns” by the Ministry of Education and the source journal of Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index, while the latter has been selected as one of China’s “core periodicals in science and technology” and the source journal of Chinese Science Citation Database. The FNU library, one of China’s ancient book protection centers, holds a collection of 4 million paper books and nearly 3 million electronic books. Whereas the number marks it out as one of the largest libraries in normal universities throughout China, the FNU library is famed internationally for its impressive collections of ancient texts, rare books, rubbings of engraved tablets, calligraphic works and paintings, Fujian’s local cultural and historical documents, early editions of foreign language publications, and major newspapers published during the historic period known as the May Fourth Movement. The University boasts sophisticated and extensively-applicable internet facilities and complete wi-fi coverage, and, to provide for various sports games, training, as well as for fitness, a number of state-of-the-art and well-equipped stadiums and sports fields. Affiliated to FNU, there are one branch college (in Fuqing City), one high school and one elementary school. The Affiliated High School of FNU is acclaimed in the province as the holder of the greatest number of International Science Olympiad medals. The chapter of 113 spectacular years has just been turned over. Upholding its principle of morality and integrity for professionals, FNU is now devoted to implementing a comprehensive reform broadly, promoting a connotative development widely, and enhancing the school quality extensively. The University is taking giant strides forward, in order to be upgraded into a higher level comprehensive university with distinct features, to make further contribution to the development of Fujian province, building it into a region of flexible mechanisms, advanced industry, affluent people, beautiful ecology, and, in turn, to play a part in realizing the China dream—the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.