Shantou University

Infobox University
name = Shantou University
Chinese Name = 汕头大学


motto = 有志, 有识, 有恒, 有为
mottoeng = Aspiration, Knowledge, Perseverance, Achievement
established = August 26, 1981
type = Public
endowment = HK $3.1 billion
president = Xu Xiaohu
faculty = 1166
undergrad = 7,064
postgrad = 1,408
city = flagicon|China Shantou
state = Guangdong
country = China
campus = (1.28 km²)
free_label = Sponsor
free = Li Ka Shing Foundation
website = [http://www.stu.edu.cn/ www.stu.edu.cn] Shantou University (STU) (Chinese: 汕头大学) was authorized and established in 1981 by the State Council and Guangdong government. Mr. Li Ka-shing, a global businessman and philanthropist, contributed HK $3.1 billion to the founding of the school. [cite web | last =Linebaugh | first =Kate | coauthors =Jane Spencer | title =Asia's richest man embraces philanthropy in China | publisher =The Australian | date =November 3, 2007
url =http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22693164-36375,00.html | accessdate = ] STU is located among the beautiful hills of Shantou city proper in Southeast China. Shantou University's mission is to nurture aspiration, knowledge, perseverance, and achievement young people.

Introduction

Shantou University (STU) was founded in 1981 and started student enrollment in 1983. It is a key comprehensive university under the “Project 211” in Guangdong Province. It is the only institution of higher education in the Chaoshan area that has provided tens of thousands of local residents with higher learning. Its campus covers a total area of 1.28 km², with the floor space reaching 406,000 m².

Since its inception, STU has benefitted from the great support and generous donations of Mr. Li Ka-shing, a distinguished international entrepreneur and philanthropist. It is the only university in China that has received long-time funding from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, which has amounted to more than HK $3.1 billion.

STU is strongly supported by the Central, Provincial, and Municipal authorities. President Hu Jintao visited the university in the early 1990s. President Jiang Zemin paid two visits to the university and wrote the following inscription as praise and encouragement to the staff and students: “The mission is demanding and the journey ahead is long.” Other leaders of the Central Government have also visited the university. Among them are Premier Li Peng, NPC（National People's Congress）Chairman Qiao Shi, and CPPCC Chairman Li Ruihuan.

STU is striving hard to become a modern institution of higher education with unique strength, international character, and global recognition. Since 2002, the University has conducted an aggressive internationalization-orientated reform to cultivate talents with the motto, “Aspiration, Knowledge, Perseverance, Achievement.” Through a series of pedagogical reforms, it aims to offer a platform for the exploration of higher educational reform in China. Comrade Li Lanqing, member of the Standing Committee of Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, praised the University as “the experimental zone for higher educational reform in China.”

History

Background of Establishment

With the generous support and assistance of the Li Ka Shing Foundation and government officials at all levels, the university keeps pursuing comprehensive and profound reforms in academic management, human resources, and financial systems. The University hopes to create an incubating environment for tertiary education in the 21st century; to provide students with integrity, creativity, and critical thinking skills; and to prepare them for the demands of China’s rapid development.

STU is located within Chaoshan district in the eastern part of Guangdong Province. With a population of more than 10 million and limited land, the opportunity to create industry in Chaoshan is limited. Determined to contribute to the development of his hometown, Li Ka-shing realized that cultivating capable and talented people are the key to creating and sustaining cultural and economic development in this area of limited industry and abundance.

Since its founding, STU has received support from various levels of government, ranging from the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China(MOE) to Guangdong Province and Shantou city, and has obtained generous financial aid from Mr. Li (more than HK $3.1 billion or US $397 million to date).

*On August 26, 1983, the State Council granted permission to establish STU.
*In 1983, STU began to enroll undergraduate students, and the Ministry of Education approved Shantou Medical Vocational School to be merged into STU and renamed Shantou University Medical College (SUMC).
*On January 1, 1984, the STU foundation stone laying ceremony was held.
*On June 20, 1986, Deng Xiaoping received Mr. Li Ka-shing in Beijing and suggested that STU should develop along freer lines and gradually attain the status of a national key university.
*On February 10, 1987, the STU Council was established.
*On February 8, 1990, the STU inauguration ceremony was held.
*In 1991, STU was listed among the universities to enroll students with scores above the first-round undergraduate admission cut-off mark.
*In 1993, STU was authorized to conduct Master’s programs.
*In December 1996, STU was short-listed as a candidate for the "Project 211".
*In 1998, STU was authorized to offer doctoral programs.
*In 2001, the Preclinical Medicine Center for post-doctoral studies was established.
*In 2002, Pathology and Pathophysiology were approved by the MOE as a National Key Discipline.
*In 2002, the Credit System Reform and English Enhancement Program were launched.
*In July 2003, STU passed the project assessment for "Project 211" in the "Nineth Five-Year Plan".
*In April 2007, STU was accredited "outstanding" by the Ministry of Education for its undergraduate programs after being audited by a team of high-caliber panelists elected by MOE.
*In 2007, STU ranked No.53 among all national colleges & universities and No.14 among comprehensive universities, according to the 2007 Chinese University Ranking in Scientific Innovation.

Campus

Shantou University covers an area of 1.26 square kilometers with a total floor space of 455,500 square meters, and the campus is being expanded. The serene campus is blanketed by rare trees and greenery. This pristine setting combined with its functional infrastructure, such as the library, the stadium, and auditorium, offers students not only a good learning environment but also an excellent living community.

*STU Campus Planning: Herzog and Meuron, co-winners of the Pritzker Architecture Prize 2001, which is the “Nobel Prize” in Architecture, were commissioned as the chief designers of STU campus. To develop an environment that is conducive to the nurture of creative thinking among students and faculty members, they have created, and continue to create, a unique campus space that unites humanity and nature by retaining the greenery and positioning a series of sculptures on the campus.

*New Library: The STU new library is designed by Ray Chen （陈瑞宪）, winner of the “Design for Asia Award” by Hong Kong Design Center. It is a state-of-the-arte influence of traditional library resources and a cutting-edge digital library to serve STU development. Connecting with the other national and international libraries, the new library will to be at the forefront in the world of knowledge. As a modern facility, it also marks the new development of the university library in the 21st century.

*Gymnasium: With a total area of about 1,500 sq. m the gymnasium can hold an audience of 1,000 spectators. It is equipped with modern facilities such as audio and visuals, lighting, central air conditioning and an LED display.

*Auditorium: The Auditorium has a total area of over 5,600 sq. m and a seating capacity of 1,798. Advanced lighting, audiovisuals, air conditioning, and seating make it comfortable and conducive to learning.

Ju Ming’s Sculpture Series “Living World”

In June 2006, the bronze sculpture series, “Living World” from Ju Ming, a famous Taiwan sculptor, was positioned besides the picturesque reservoir on STU campus. The lower part of the cylinder-shaped building that holds the sculpture is constructed as a half-open reservoir working room. Such a building is connected to the reservoir dam with the abutment creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere on the campus.

Academic Conference Center (ACC)

As a world-class university conference center designed by well-known designer William Chang Suk Ping （张叔平）, the ACC has over 50 rooms and the conference halls, all equipped with modern equipment including high speed internet. The conference center hosts international conferences and officials from around the world, as well as visiting scholars have stayed there.

Colleges and Schools

After more than 20 years of development, STU has grown into a comprehensive university with various majors and specialties. The University consists of the following colleges and schools:

* College of Liberal Arts
* College of Science
* College of Engineering
* Medical College
* Law School
* Business School (Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business)
* Cheung Kong School of Journalism and Communications
* Cheung Kong School of Art and Design
* School of Continuing Education

STU has established seven postgraduate programs and 49 graduate programs. Shantou University now boasts 15,000 students (including full-time and continuing education students), and over 700 faculty members. More than 30,000 students have graduated from STU.

College of Liberal Arts

"Dean: Chenfang Jing" As the first CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, and Operate) member in China, the College has adopted the new EIP-CDIO (EIP stands for Ethics, Integrity, and Professionalism) educational model in line with the international practices related to engineering education. The model is implemented to train high-caliber, talented students in engineering practices and management with appropriate engineering knowledge, overall competence, multi-disciplinary learning experiences, and a global outlook.

Law School

"Dean: Du Gangjian"With the implementation of the new paradigm of “system-based integrated teaching,” the College offers English-immersed courses to educate students in clinical medicine, medical ethics, scientific research and innovation, so as to develop practical medical abilities with high overall competence and innovation.

Cheung Kong School of Journalism and Communication

"Dean: Chen Wanying"With the motto of “Enterprising, Scientific, Quality-oriented, Caring, and Serving,” the School relies upon its strong faculty team and educational advantages offered through STU to develop courses in a variety of educational modes and continually enhance its curriculum and scope to better serve the local economy and encourage social development. As a presiding school of the Examination for Self-taught Students, it plays an important role in offering self-directed programs leading to certification (distant-learning courses).

Degree Programs

Undergraduate Education

Based on the principle of cultivating talents with “Aspiration, Knowledge, Perseverance, Achievement,” STU adheres to its student-oriented education mission, and has conducted profound educational reform in many aspects of curriculum development and academic affairs management. It was highly praised by Comrade Li Lanqing as “the experimental zone for higher educational reform in China.”

Graduate / Postgraduate Education

Institution

Administration

Shantou University is examining trends and developments in global tertiary education, and learning from the successful experiences of world-class universities. Taking a cue from its exposure to international practices, the University has conducted a profound reform in financial management, human resources regulations and policies, distribution regulations, resource management, pedagogical methods, curricular system, and University administration. As a result, Shantou University has been revitalized and has won acclaim from both China and abroad.

Current Status

References

* "STU Facuts 2007" published by STU Publishing House
* "STU Annual Report 2007" published by STU Publishing House

External links

* [http://www.stu.edu.cn Shantou University]
* [http://www.people.com.cn/GB/paper39/4833/524552.html Mr. Li donated another HK $75 million to STU]