Yili Normal University(伊犁师范大学)

Yili Normal University (YNU) is located in Yili, often referred to as the "Jiangnan of the Frontier." It is a university jointly established by the Ministry of Education, the People's Government of Jiangsu Province, and the People's Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

For 77 years, YNU has remained rooted in the border region, adhering to the educational philosophy of "Cultivating Talents with the Populus Euphratica Spirit and Serving the Stability and Prosperity of Xinjiang." It has trained nearly 140,000 outstanding graduates from all ethnic groups, earning the reputation of being the "Cradle of Talents at the Foot of Tianshan" and a "Famous Educational Institution by the Yili River."

Historical Evolution

• 1948: Founded as Xinjiang Provincial Yili Junior College.

• 1953: Renamed Yili Normal School.

• 1980: Upgraded to a regular undergraduate institution and named Yili Normal College.

• 2006: Authorized to grant master's degrees.

• 2018: Officially renamed Yili Normal University with approval from the Ministry of Education.

Institutional Positioning

The university aims to become a high-level normal university with significant influence both within and outside the region. Its core mission is to cultivate technical, applied, and compound talents necessary for regional economic and social development while remaining firmly rooted in serving the frontier.

Disciplines and Programs

• Academic Structure: 18 physical colleges and 3 preparatory colleges (Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Mining Engineering).

• Undergraduate Education: 69 undergraduate majors covering 10 discipline categories.

• Postgraduate Education: 10 primary discipline master’s degree authorization points and 8 professional master’s degree points, covering 58 sub-disciplines.

• Key Programs: * 4 National-level first-class undergraduate major construction points.

  • 10 Regional-level first-class undergraduate major construction points.

  • 2 National-level first-class undergraduate courses.

Faculty and Staff

• Total Staff: 1,601 (1,042 full-time teachers).

• Qualifications: 393 teachers hold doctoral degrees; 314 hold senior professional titles.

• Talent Programs: Includes 3 experts receiving Special Government Allowances from the State Council, and dozens of scholars under the "Tianshan Talent" and "Tianchi Talent" programs.

Scientific Research (Last 3 Years)

• Projects: 42 national-level projects (including National Natural Science and Social Science Foundations).

• Funding: Total research funding reached 273.17 million RMB.

• Output: Published 56 academic works, authorized 143 patents, and published 4,229 papers (including 1,864 high-level academic papers).

Teaching and Research Platforms

• Teaching: 45 regional-level or higher platforms, including a National Language Promotion Base and 2 regional Modern Industry Colleges.

• Research: 45 research platforms, including 13 at the provincial/ministerial level or higher and 5 key laboratories of Yili Prefecture.

Student Enrollment

YNU recruits students from 29 provinces and regions across China.

• Total Students: 29,941

  • Undergraduates: 27,976

  • Master’s Students: 1,910

  • International Students: 55

Facilities and Resources

• Campus Area: Two campuses totaling 1,936.7 acres.

• Building Area: 534,400 square meters.

• Assets: Teaching and research equipment valued at 237 million RMB.

• Library: 1.908 million paper books and 30 electronic databases.

Future Outlook

Currently, the university focuses on three major priorities: improving teaching quality, applying for doctoral degree authorization, and developing "New Engineering" disciplines. Guided by the motto "Integrity in Character, Practicality in Learning," YNU is moving steadily toward its goal of becoming a high-level normal university for the new era.

(Data as of December 2025)