Beijing Normal University (BNU) grew out of the Education Department of Imperial University of Peking established in 1902, which initiated teacher training in China’s higher education. After the development for over a century, BNU has become a comprehensive and research-intensive university with its main characteristics of basic disciplines in sciences and humanities, teacher education and educational science.
BNU consists of Beijing Campus and Zhuhai Campus. The University has 3 faculties, 27 schools, 2 departments, 11 research institutes and 4 academies. In addition, there are more than 5.4 million books and 8.2 million e-books in its libraries. BNU is home to more than 35,000 full-time students, and has more than 8000 faculty members, including 2562 full-time teachers, 94% of whom have earned a doctoral degree.
At present, the university has established cooperative ties with about 300 universities and international organizations from more than 40 countries and regions. Each year, above 900 international professors and scholars are invited to lecture and research at the University. And BNU has around 2000 long-term international students, the scale of which ranks among top in China’s universities.
MOTTO
Learn, so as to instruct others.
Act, to serve as example to all.
LOGO
The emblem features a muduo in the center, which is a kind of bell used in ancient China and symbolizes the sound of teaching.
The university name was scripted by Chairman Mao Zedong in 1950.
BNU History
1902
The university’s predecessor, the Department of Education of Imperial University of Peking was founded on the initiative of the Emperor of Qing Dynasty. It was the first university in China’s history with the main mission of training excellent teachers and specialists.
1908
The school was named as Supreme Education School of Peking, and became independent.
1923
The name changed to National Beijing Normal University, the first Normal University in China’s history.
1931
The Peking Women’s Normal University merged into Peking Normal University.
1949
The name changed to Beijing Normal University.
1952
Fu Jen Catholic University merged into Beijing Normal University.
1996
First enrolled “Project 211”, a national project aiming at strengthening about 100 universities for the 21st century.
2002
Entered into “Project 985”, a national project to bring a handful of elite universities to international prominence.
2017
BNU has been Listed in the “world-class universities”of Class A (36 universities), and 11 disciplines (8th in China) have been selected for China’s “Double-First Class” Initiative.
