East China Normal University - History

History

In October 1951, East China Normal University was founded on the base of the Great China University and Kwang Hua University's arts and science faculties, while incorporating some other departments from Fudan University, Tongji University, University of Shanghai and East China PE Academy. It was located at the former address of the Great China University.

In 1952, the Chinese government regrouped the country's higher education institutions in an attempt to build a Soviet-style system, departments from St. John's University, Zhejiang University, University of Shanghai, Utopia University, Aurora University, Tongji University and Jiaotong University were incorporated into ECNU. After the adjustment, ECNU was changed to a comprehensive university in China.

In March 1959, ECNU was authenticated as one of the first 16 key universities in China, and this status was reaffirmed in 1978. In June 1986, ECNU was selected to be one of the first 33 higher education institutions authorized, by the State Council, to establish their graduate schools.

In 1996, ECNU passed the prerequisites appraisal and became one of universities sponsored by the major national program “Project 211”. In 2006, the Ministry of Education and Shanghai Municipality signed into a partnership for co-sponsoring the development of the university, qualifying ECNU as a member of the “Project 985” and facilitating ECNU’s efforts and progress toward a world-renowned high-level research university.