USTC is a national key university with comprehensive faculties of science, technology and arts. Affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the university was founded in Beijing in September 1958 under the presidential leadership of Dr. Guo Moruo, the first president of the CAS. From the beginning, USTC has prospered from a strong relationship with the CAS that is based on the Academy's policy of the entire academy committing to the university, whereby all institutes under the CAS are to maintain active cooperation with the university's corresponding faculties. Since 1970, when USTC moved to Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, the university has flourished through the development of rich cooperation with surrounding institutions and industries. In accordance with the national open-door policy enacted in 1978, USTC has launched a series of reforms, achieving recognition by the State Council during the 7th and 8th Five-Year Plan periods as one of the state's key institutions of higher education. In the 9th Five-Year Plan Period, the State ratified USTC as one of the first universities pioneered in its efforts to recreate in education following the Cultural Revolution, establishing its current leadership role in preparing China's citizens for the 21st century. Deng Xiaoping, the former distinguished leader of China, lauded the university during a visit in 1983: "USTC has been doing very well. They have a lot of talented young personnel." Up till today, the university has made considerable progress in many aspects, continually improving its facilities and environment for educational training and scientific research. The university's principle of "studying diligently, unifying theory with practice, and placing equal importance on integrity and ability" is deep in the mindsof all staff and students.

At present, USTC is headed by a number of renowned professors in the fields of science and technology. It consists of 10 schools, 21 departments, and a special class for the Gifted Young. Students may pursue their studies in any of the 56 specialties conferring Bachelor degrees, 48 offering Master's degrees and 26 awarding Doctoral degrees. 20 specialties in 8 fields have the authority of providing post-doctoral studies. Among the national key fields of study at the university are Pure Mathematics, Computational Mathematics, Condensed Matter Physics and Solid State Mechanics. The Departments of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics have been selected by the State Education Commission as training bases for research personnel. The National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory and the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science are located at the west campus of USTC. The Structure Research Laboratory, Laboratory of Cognitive Science and Laboratory of Internal Friction and Defects in Solids have been named as open-labs of CAS supervised by scientists from all over the country, providing services to scientists nationwide. All of these amounts to a total cost of 270 million yuan RMB.

The university staff numbers 3450, including a total teaching staff of 1650. Of these, 11 are members of CAS and CAES. 380 are professors and 810 are associate professors including senior engineers. The university's excellence in education stems from the wealth of initiative, diligence and vitality possessed by the faculty. The number of students enrolled in the university programs currently totals 8292, including 473 Ph.D. students, 1409 Master's students, 5310 undergraduates and 1100 training students. Additionally, there are about 4200 students on the campus participating in various adult education programs. USTC has consistently maintained a freshman class with the highest average entrance exam scores in China since 1977.

Three campuses in Hefei cover a total area of 113 hectares (1700 mu), with a total construction area of more than 400,000 square meters. USTC is fully furnished with advanced equipment and instruments for teaching and research. At the present time the book collection up to date in the main library exceeds one million.

USTC commits itself to fostering the growth of science and technology by adhering to a pedagogical philosophy which integrates teaching with research and theory with practice. The university places great emphasis on training students with the basic theoretical knowledge, intellectual skills and scientific research capabilities practical for future leading roles in the country's development. USTC graduates are strong in analysing and solving problems, computer application and proficiency in a number of world languages. For example, the total average scores of USTC students on the national College English Test 4 (CET 4) and College English Test 6 ( CET 6) exams among Chinese non-English major students have successively been the highest in the whole nation for years. The students are eager to learn and quick to grasp and stay abreast of the latest technology. The graduates have been serving the nation in fundamental research and teaching posts and in the application and development of new and high technology. Many of them have become the backbone in their specialties and fields. Some have become important leaders, making great contributions to the nation. In recent years, besides meeting the needs of CAS, the graduates have been recruited by a variety of renowned organizations and corporations throughout China.

USTC has been pursuing an innovative education system. It has pioneered the establishment of special classes for the gifted young of China, the distinction of major disciplines from ancillary ones, the introduction of the credit system, and the institutions of the 4-year, 2-year and 3-year, and the 4-year and 5-year accelerated education program for students receiving Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees.

In addition to excellent teaching, the university supports a thriving scientific research and development environment. It has a high reputation at home and abroad for being an important scientific research center. Since 1978, USTC has received 758 outstanding awards in scientific research. Among them, more than 250 were at the international level, 37 were national awards, and 390 were CAS, provincial and ministry level awards. USTC is ranked among the first four Chinese institutions of higher education based on the number of papers quoted in the abstracts of international journals. The National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (NSRL), the only dedicated synchrotron facility built in a university in China, is the first large-scale scientific research project supported by the Central People's Government. The NSRL receives special recognition from the CAS, and has been regarded as a significant achievement in the field of high technology in China. The State Key Laboratory of Fire Science is the first key laboratory in China for research centered on fire mechanisms. The superconductor research is held in high esteem by the international community. While leading in fundamental research, USTC vigorously pursues the research and development of high technology. In trying to meet the demands of the country's economic development, USTC has successfully established and expanded its scientific and technological collaboration with industry. The Hefei Hi-Tech Plaza is a successful USTC joint venture, aimed at serving the needs of organizations producing and engaging in hi-tech products. USTC strives to promote international academic exchanges and scientific research cooperation. Since 1978, many cooperative and exchange programs have been developed with around 50 universities and scientific research institutions in 16 countries and regions. Every year, about 300 foreign scholars are invited to visit USTC for giving lectures or to taking part in short-term cooperative research. More than 110 foreign professors have been invited to USTC as honorary and guest professors. Among them many world celebrated scientists, such as Dr. C.N. Yang, Dr. T.D. Lee, G. Andreotti, Dr. S.C.C. Ting, and Dr. Y. T. Lee have been awarded honorary professorships or honorary Ph.D's. USTC is actively engaged in a great number of international exchanges. The university sends more than 350 faculty members to study abroad every year. Most of them return to take important posts in scientific research and administration.

The spirit of national reform and open policy along with the rapid pace of economic development has brought about new opportunities for the university. As a part of the State Project 211”, USTC is now entering "the third stage of development" in its history. It is expected that USTC will certainly forge ahead towards the great goal of a top-level university in the country and a well-known university in the world . USTC is making a great effort to provide a modern educational system geared to meeting the needs of global scientific development and China's market economy. With an eye on specialty development and talent training, the university will continue to develop its teaching, scientific research and social service capacities. USTC is determined to sustain its leadership at home and its prestige world-wide according to its mission: "To Build a Global University and Educate the Brilliant of the World."

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