Located in Leshan, Sichuan Province, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the birthplace of the renowned cultural figure Guo Moruo, Leshan Normal University is at the heart of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Economic Circle. The campus offers picturesque views of the Leshan Giant Buddha to the east, the Dadu River to the south, Mount Emei to the west, and the city’s green core to the north. The university traces its roots back to the Sichuan Provincial Leshan Normal School founded in 1940, and it inherited the educational legacy of Wuhan University’s 1938-1946 relocation to Leshan during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was officially established as Leshan Normal College in 1978 and began offering higher education programs. In 2000, the university became one of the first to offer bachelor's degree programs in the province.
The university is committed to serving local and regional educational needs while expanding its influence across Southwest China, particularly in the Han, Tibetan, Qiang, and Yi ethnic regions. Its educational focus is on undergraduate programs, while graduate education is also being developed. The university aims to become a first-class, provincial-level institution with distinct features, rooted in Leshan and connected to Sichuan and Chongqing. In 2006, it passed the undergraduate teaching assessment with a good rating, followed by passing the Ministry of Education’s undergraduate teaching audit in 2018, and the most recent undergraduate education review in 2024. In 2012, it was included in the "Supporting Western Universities Program" by the Ministry of Education with Wuhan University as its partner. The university was listed as a key project for master’s degree programs starting in 2016 and became a “priority cultivation” institution in 2020. In 2023, it was included in the "Double First-Class" discipline construction list of Sichuan Province. In 2024, the university was recognized by the State Council’s Academic Degree Committee as a master's degree granting institution, with three master's degree programs in Education, Forestry, and Materials and Chemical Engineering.
Educational Philosophy and Development
Leshan Normal University promotes the spirit of "daring to be the first, striving for excellence" and follows the motto "Strengthening self-reliance, cultivating character through study." The university focuses on teacher education, establishing a comprehensive training system for educators across all disciplines and educational stages. It also emphasizes local service by leveraging regional resources, particularly in bamboo and silicon resource development. The university has a strong tradition of cultural research, particularly in the fields of heritage preservation and the study of cultural figures like Su Shi and Guo Moruo.
The university is committed to the cultivation of application-oriented talents, particularly those with expertise in basic education, special education, and rural development. It has become a key institution for training high-quality applied talents in the southwest region of China.
Achievements and Innovations
The university has inherited the higher education legacy of Wuhan University’s wartime relocation and has grown into a prominent institution in Southwest China. Since its establishment, it has been recognized as a leading institution for teacher education. Its innovative teaching models, such as the "main and minor programs system" and "dual education model combining schools and counties," have received national recognition, with several national teaching awards. Leshan Normal University has also become known for its cultural and artistic programs, including its award-winning Moruo Art Troupe.
The university is a leader in special education, having built a national-level training base for special education teachers. It has a strong reputation in language education and has been recognized as a national-level demonstration school for standardized language use. The university has earned numerous provincial and national awards in various fields, including arts education, national defense education, and the development of rural tourism talent.
Campus and Facilities
The university’s main campus covers over 1,150 acres and features more than 430,000 square meters of building space. The Suji campus, located in a scenic area, occupies 1,100 acres with 350,000 square meters of buildings. The university library holds over 1.77 million paper books, 9.81 million electronic books, and provides access to 65 databases. The university also boasts advanced teaching and research equipment valued at 258 million RMB. With over 19,000 full-time students and 1,500 staff, including 400+ senior faculty members, Leshan Normal University has a robust academic team with numerous recognized experts, including two national "Excellent Teachers," four provincial-level teaching masters, and 6 experts receiving State Council government allowances.
Academic Excellence and Research
The university offers 62 undergraduate programs across 15 colleges, covering a wide range of disciplines from the humanities and social sciences to engineering and agriculture. The university is recognized for its strong academic programs in fields such as forestry, special education, heritage protection, and environmental science. It is also a leader in innovative projects, including national-level curriculum reforms and a variety of research initiatives in areas like bamboo pest control, resource development, and renewable energy technology.
The university has received over 70 national and provincial research grants and has published more than 4,000 papers in international journals. It is a hub for research in fields such as Guo Moruo studies, Su Shi studies, teacher education, special education, and forestry resources.
Community Engagement and International Cooperation
The university has extensive partnerships with local governments and enterprises, contributing to regional economic and social development. It has established various research institutes focused on bamboo technology, solar energy, and rural development. The university has also made significant strides in international cooperation, establishing relationships with 56 foreign universities and research institutions, including those in the Czech Republic, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. These partnerships facilitate student and faculty exchanges, joint research, and collaborative development.
Future Development
Standing at a new historical starting point, Leshan Normal University is entering a key period of accelerated development. The university will focus on the "1329" development strategy, aiming to become a distinctive, first-class provincial teacher training institution during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
Data as of: October 18, 2024
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