Hebei Normal University is a key provincial university jointly established by the Hebei Provincial Government and the Ministry of Education. It is a "Double First-Class" university in Hebei Province. The university traces its origins to the Shuntianfu Academy founded in Beijing in 1902 and the Beiyang Women’s Normal School established in Tianjin in 1906, with over 120 years of history and a glorious tradition of education. In June 1996, Hebei Normal University, Hebei Normal College, and Hebei Education College (founded in 1952) merged with Hebei Vocational and Technical Teachers College (founded in 1984) to form the new Hebei Normal University. In 2014, the Hebei Provincial Government and the Ministry of Education decided to jointly build Hebei Normal University.
From its inception, Hebei Normal University has been dedicated to educational reform and enlightenment, establishing a strong foundation in red revolutionary culture and accumulating a rich tradition of revolutionary spirit. The university has always been aligned with the progressive cause of the Chinese nation, striving for independence, freedom, democracy, and prosperity. It has been supported by notable figures such as revolutionary leaders Deng Yingchao, Liu Qingyang, Guo Longzhen, Yang Xiufeng, Kang Shien, Rong Gaotang, famous patriotic scholars Liang Shuming, Zhang Shenfu, Tang Yongtong, academicians Yan Lugang, Hao Bailin, Li Shushen, He Hong, sports elites Xu Shaofa, Cai Zhenhua, and current political leaders such as Li Zhanshu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress. From its early days as a "school" to becoming an academic institution of national repute, Hebei Normal University has inherited the spirit of the motto “Cherish the world, seek truth,” passing down its values through generations and nurturing a large number of talents dedicated to national rejuvenation and patriotism.
The university upholds the great flag of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, insists on the comprehensive leadership of the Communist Party of China, fully implements the Party’s education policy, and adheres to the direction of socialist education. The university’s high-quality party-building has led to its high-quality development. It has been awarded several honors such as the Red Flag Unit in Grassroots Party Building by the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, advanced grassroots party organization, and civilized unit. One of its colleges has been selected as a national model for party-building work, and five of its party branches have been recognized as national exemplary party branches in higher education.
In 2011, the university moved to a new campus covering 1,829 acres. The new campus houses a library with 3.3 million books and over 70 domestic and foreign databases. The university has 24,936 undergraduate students, 5,870 master's students, 644 doctoral students, and 11,198 adult education students. It consists of 23 colleges and departments, including the independent Huahua College.
The university offers 86 undergraduate programs, 29 first-level academic master’s degree programs, 24 professional master's degree programs, 11 first-level doctoral degree programs, and 1 doctoral professional degree program, with 10 postdoctoral research stations. It covers 12 major disciplines, including philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, medicine, management, art, and interdisciplinary studies. It has 1 national key discipline, 7 "Double First-Class" construction disciplines in Hebei Province, 1 provincial key discipline cultivation project, 4 provincial strong and characteristic disciplines, and 14 provincial key disciplines. In the 2023 ShanghaiRanking’s China University Professional Ranking, 80 of its programs were ranked, with 39 programs in the top 50 nationwide and 7 programs in the top 10.
The university has made continuous progress in scientific research. It has undertaken significant national research projects such as the National Key R&D Program, the National Major Special Program for New Transgenic Biological Varieties, and the National Natural Science Foundation’s key projects. The research group led by Academician Sun Daye won the National Natural Science Award (Second Class), filling a gap for Hebei Province.
The university has made great strides in building research platforms and think tanks. It currently hosts 1 key laboratory of the Ministry of Education, 2 key research bases for humanities and social sciences, 1 national language and text promotion base, 1 Ministry of Education provincial collaborative innovation center, and 3 centers for country and regional studies. There are 19 provincial key discipline laboratories, innovation centers, engineering research centers, and 16 humanities and social science research bases in Hebei Province, along with 3 international cooperation bases, 3 collaborative innovation centers, and 3 new think tanks.
Hebei Normal University focuses on its core mission of cultivating virtues and talent, adhering to its original commitment to “nurturing teachers for the Party and talent for the country,” and has continually improved its educational level. It is committed to training the next generation of leaders for national rejuvenation. The university has been recognized as a national key Marxism College, with 14 programs accredited by the National Teacher Education Certification, 34 national-level first-class undergraduate programs, 21 first-class courses, and 1 experimental area for innovation in talent cultivation models. It has received 6 national teaching achievement awards, including 1 first prize and 5 second prizes.
The university has established a comprehensive teacher education system covering early childhood education, basic education, higher education, vocational education, ethnic education, and special education. It has made significant contributions to rural education through teaching support projects, helping rural revitalization. It is also home to several research institutions and training bases, such as the National Key Training Base for Primary and Secondary School Teachers, the National Vocational Education Faculty Training Base, and the Hebei Provincial Teachers Training Center.
With a focus on cutting-edge developments, the university has embraced opportunities in artificial intelligence and received approval for projects such as the "Artificial Intelligence to Boost Teacher Development" and "5G+ Smart Education" initiatives. These projects aim to support the transformation and high-quality development of teacher education in Hebei.
The university currently employs 2,601 staff members, with 1,633 full-time faculty. Among its staff are 382 senior professors, 919 associate professors, 1 academician from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and numerous distinguished individuals, including national teaching teams, national teaching award winners, and scholars who have received national-level accolades.
Hebei Normal University maintains high-level international cooperation and exchanges with over 200 universities worldwide. It is a recipient of Chinese Government Scholarships and the International Chinese Teacher Scholarship Program and collaborates with universities in over 40 countries. The university operates 2 Confucius Institutes, 1 Confucius Classroom, and various international education projects.
Entering the new era, the university, guided by the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, is steadfast in its commitment to teacher education. It is determined to continue its century-long legacy of educational excellence, enhancing moral character and talent cultivation, and advancing steadily towards the goal of building a high-level comprehensive normal university, making new contributions to China’s modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
(Data updated as of October 2024)
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