SHAANXI NORMAL UNIVERSITY

Shaanxi Normal University, situated in Xi'an, the ancient capital of China, is a key institution directly under the Ministry of Education. Originally established as Shaanxi Teachers College in 1944, it was renamed Xi'an Teachers College in 1954 and merged with Shaanxi Teachers College in 1960 to become Shaanxi Normal University. In 1978, it became one of the first teacher education institutions directly administered by the Ministry of Education. The university was selected into the national "211 Project" in 2005, the "985 Project" for teacher education innovation platform construction in 2008, and the first batch of "Double First-Class" universities in 2017, marking a new era in its pursuit of excellence in teacher education. Over eight decades, generations of educators have upheld the mission of teacher education, overcoming challenges to educate and build the nation. This commitment has forged a unique spirit characterized by dedication and loyalty to the country and the people. To date, the university has produced over 500,000 graduates, many of whom are high-quality teachers serving the western region's basic education, earning it the title of "cradle of teachers." Currently, the university hosts more than 19,000 undergraduate students, 9,300 master's students, 2,300 doctoral students, and 500 international students across two campuses: Chang'an and Yanta. The Chang'an Campus is modern and expansive, while the Yanta Campus is elegant and serene. The university library, a national key unit for ancient book preservation, houses over 4.16 million paper books, 2.68 million e-books, 92 databases, and 268 sub-libraries of academic literature. The university also features the Red Candle School History Museum and China's first comprehensive education museum, along with affiliated middle schools, primary schools, and kindergartens, which are recognized as provincial demonstration institutions. The university adheres to connotative development, continuously enhancing its disciplinary professionalism. It is one of China's first institutions to confer doctoral and master's degrees, offering programs in philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, medicine, management, art, and interdisciplinary studies. It boasts 25 first-level disciplines authorized for doctoral degrees, 35 for master's degrees, 2 doctoral professional degree authorization points, 25 master's professional degree authorization points, 72 undergraduate majors, and 40 national first-class undergraduate major construction points. The university's School of Marxism is a national key Marxist college, and thirteen disciplines rank in the top 1% of ESI, with chemistry and materials science in the top 2‰. The university prioritizes moral cultivation and personnel training quality. As one of the first "National Excellence Plan" pilot universities, it is also an innovation and entrepreneurship education reform demonstration university. It has won numerous national teaching awards, including 18 national teaching achievement awards and 2 first National Teaching Material Construction Awards. Students excel in national competitions such as "Internet+" and "Challenge Cup," with four theses selected as national excellent doctoral dissertations and 110 as outstanding dissertations in Shaanxi Province. The university emphasizes talent development, continuously strengthening faculty construction. Currently, there are over 2,100 full-time teachers, 97% of whom hold doctoral or master's degrees. Among them, 675 are senior professors and 876 are associate senior professors. The university has attracted 115 national talents and 300 provincial and ministerial talents, including 1 Chinese Academy of Sciences academician, 1 foreign academician, 7 dual-appointed academicians, and 4 recipients of the National Outstanding Youth Science Fund. The university is committed to scientific and technological innovation, enhancing its strategic service capabilities. It houses a national engineering laboratory, three Ministry of Education key laboratories, two Ministry of Education engineering research centers, one key research base for humanities and social sciences, four national and regional research centers, one educational legislation research base, one key laboratory of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and one key laboratory of the National Archives Administration. Since the "13th Five-Year Plan," the university has led over 130 key projects from the National Natural Science Foundation, the National Key Research and Development Program, and the National Social Science Fund. It has won prestigious awards, including the National Innovation Prize and multiple first prizes in technology and humanities. The university focuses on teacher education, highlighting its distinctive characteristics. It offers various forms of teacher education, including state-funded teachers, national excellence plan teachers, ordinary teachers, and locally commissioned teachers, covering preschool, primary, and secondary school levels. Over 36,800 government-funded normal students have been enrolled, accounting for a quarter of the national total. The university leads initiatives such as the West Normal University Teacher Education Innovation and Development Alliance and conducts extensive regional education development activities. The university promotes international exchanges and cooperation, establishing long-term partnerships with over 190 universities and educational institutions in 38 countries and regions. It participates in the "Belt and Road" education action, initiating alliances for teacher education, humanities, and publishing. Through dual-degree programs, student exchanges, and international internships, the university fosters multicultural exchanges and enriches students' overseas experiences. Looking forward, the university aims to become a world-class teacher education institution with Chinese characteristics, contributing significantly to the comprehensive development of a modern socialist country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.