Notes about 39+ Chinese University Database

Why do we choose these 39 Chinese Universities?

The current 39 Chinese Universities in this database are all universities which are involved in the 985 project of the Chinese government .

China has been striving to raise its international stature of higher education and to provide top-quality education for future leaders of the nation. In 1998, President Jiang Zemin announced the goal of building world-class universities in China; subsequently, several top universities received special three-year grants for quality improvements under what is called the 985 Project. For example, Peking and Tsinghua Universities both received 1.8 billion Yuan (USD. 225 million) in the first round of special 985 funding, while Fudan, Zhejiang, and Nanjing Universities received 1.2 billion Yuan (USD 150 million) each. These grants are awarded in addition to special support provided by the 211 Project, another program to develop 100 top universities for the 21st century.

The 985 Project reflects a conscious strategy to concentrate resources on a handful of institutions with the greatest potential for success in the international academic marketplace. The second phase, launched in 2004, expanded the program to 39 institutions. Many participating universities receive tens of millions of Yuan each year. A large of the funding goes to academic exchange, allowing Chinese academics to participate in conferences abroad, and bringing foreign lecturers to China.

Where do we get these data and when were the data updated?

All data what we collected are based on the website of all listed universities and Ministry of Education of People’s Republic of China (MOE http://www.moe.edu.cn ), S&T Development Center of Ministry of Education, PRC(http://www.cutech.edu.cn), China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center (http://www.cdgdc.edu.cn).

Please note that all data we provided are up-to-date (by the end of August, 2009) according to the current website of listed universities. For those data with a ‘particular year’ behind, that means, the data only can be acquired by that date from the official websites we mentioned above.

Future plans?

• Add three more universities which located in Hongkong and one university in Maucau
• Integrating information of CAS (Chinese Academe of Science)
• Integrating information of State Key Laboratories
• Improve user interface
• Update the database in a regular basis, at least once a year.

Comments and suggestions concerning our future plans: database@swissnexchina.org

39+ Chinese University Database Field names and specifications

Conventions:

1. Data Values or data type defined in [ ]. When no detail for data value format is given, default value is a text string of max. 100 characters

2. Comments are given in { }

3. All other titles are the exact data field titles that will appear

4. Titles in blue colour in the database contain explanation

1 General information on Institution

1.1 Name of Institution

1.1.1 English Name

1.1.2 Chinese Name

1.2 Website of Institution[1] :

1.2.1 English Version of Website

1.2.2 Chinese Version of Website

1.3 Head of Institution:

1.3.1 Chinese First Name

1.3.2 Chinese Surname

1.3.3 Pinyin First Name

1.3.4 Pinyin Surname

1.3.5 Gender [Mr. or Ms.]

1.3.6 Title (In English){e.g. Prof. or Dr. or other text to be inserted}

1.3.7 Position (In English)

1.3.8 Title (In Chinese) {e.g. Prof. or Dr. or other text to be inserted}

1.3.9 Position (In Chinese)

1.4 Location of Institution

1.4.1 City

1.4.2 Province {if same as 1.4.1 repeat}[2]:

1.4.3 Distance & Direction from Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou [3]

1.5 Type of Institution [4]

1.5.1 Type [University, CA Institutes Others]

1.6 Size of Institution[5]

1.6.1 Number of Bachelor & Master Degree Students {University Only} [integer or 0:“data not

1.6.2 available” or -1:“doesn’t apply”]

1.6.2.1 Ranking among Universities [Auto ranked or 0:“data not available” or -1:“doesn’t apply”]

1.6.3 Number of PH D candidates [integer or 0:“data not available” or -1:“doesn’t apply”]

1.6.3.1 Ranking among Universities / CA Institutes [Auto ranked or 0:“data not available” or -1:“doesn’t apply”]

1.6.4 Number of PHD Programs [auto calculated or 0:“data not available” or -1:“doesn’t apply”]

1.6.4.1 Ranking among Universities / CA Institutes [Auto ranked or 0:“data not available” or -1:“doesn’t apply”]

1.6.5 Number of Courses taught in English (Master & PHD)

1.7 Selected Quality Indicators

1.7.1 Total Number of CAS[6]/CAE[7]Members [Auto calculated integer or 0:“data not available”]

1.7.1.1 Ranking among Universities [Auto ranked or “0: data not available” or “-1: doesn’t apply”]

1.7.2 Number of CAS Members [integer or 0:“data not available”]

1.7.2.1 Ranking among Universities / CA-Institutes [Auto ranked or “0: data not available” or “-1: doesn’t apply”]

1.7.3 Number of CAE Members [integer or “0: data not available”]

1.7.3.1 Ranking among Universities / CA-Institutes [Auto ranked or “0: data not available” or “-1: doesn’t apply”]

1.7.4 Rank in Jiao tong Ranking (top 100 Asia/Pacific) {Universities only}[8] [integer or “not ranked” for university which not ranked, “doesn’t apply” for CA-institutes]

1.7.5 Rank in MOE classification {Universities only}[9] [Top9, Top39, Top100, “not ranked” or

“doesn’t apply” for CA-institutes]

1.7.6 Competitive Ranking of Graduate Schools in China

1.7.7 Number of papers listed in Science Citation Index SCI[10] [integer]

1.7.7.1 Ranking among Universities / CA-Institutes [Auto ranked or “0: data not available” or “-1: doesn’t apply”]

1.7.8 Number of SCI-Citations

1.7.8.1 Ranking among Universities / CA-Institutes [Auto ranked or “0: data not available” or “-1: doesn’t apply”]

1.7.9 Number of Disciplines Ranked as Top Five by CDGDC [integer]

1.7.9.1 Ranking among Universities / CA-Institutes [Auto ranked or “0: data not available” or “-1: doesn’t apply”]

2 Special Strength / Priority Research Fields

2.1 Disciplines ranked as Top Five by CDGDC {2007-2009[11]}

2.1.1 ID [integer]

2.1.2 Classification {5 main categories} [select from the categories list defined by CDGDC]

2.1.3 Discipline {related to Classification} [select from disciplines list]

2.1.4 Rank [integer]

2.2 State Key Laboratories[12]

2.2.1 List of State Key Laboratories {Universities only}

2.2.1.1 ID [integer]

2.2.1.2 Name

2.2.1.3 Remark

2.3 National Engineering Research Centres

2.3.1 Number of NERC

2.3.2 List of NERC

2.3.2.1 ID [integer]

2.3.2.2 Name

2.3.2.3 Remark

2.4 National Research Centres for Humanities and Social Sciences

2.4.1 List of NRCHSS {Universities only}

2.4.1.1 ID [integer]

2.4.1.2 Name

2.4.1.3 Remark

2.4.1.4 Remark

3 Research and Innovation Competence

3.1 Number of companies in National University S&T Park

3.2 Number of patents authorized

3.3 Number of awards for S&T[13]

4 International Cooperation

4.1 Head of International Relations Office

4.1.1 Chinese First Name

4.1.2 Chinese Surname

4.1.3 Pinyin First Name

4.1.4 Pinyin Surname

4.1.5 Gender [Mr. or Ms.]

4.1.6 Title (In English) {e.g. Prof. or Dr. or other text to be inserted}

4.1.7 Position (In English)

4.1.8 Title (In Chinese) {e.g. Prof. or Dr. or other text to be inserted}

4.1.9 Position (In Chinese)

4.1.10 Email address

4.1.11 Tel Phone

4.2 International Partner Universities (Partial)[14]

4.2.1 ID [integer]

4.2.2 International Partner Universities

4.3 Bilateral Cooperation with Switzerland (University level)

4.3.1 Number [integer]

4.3.2 Name of Swiss Universities / Institutions

---

[1] Almost all universities have their homepage both in Chinese and in English. However, the Chinese version often contains far more important information and is updated much more frequently than the English one.

[2] Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing are directly under the central government control. The four cities’ names will be repeated.

[3] Distance & Direction from either Shanghai/Beijing/Guangzhou: Distance from one of the three biggest cities in China– Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, as well as direction to it will be indicated.

[4] During the first phase, we only focus on the 39 universities involved in the 985 Project. Some universities with recognized strengths in specific field and several best universities in the Hong Kong area will be added in future. The types include: University, comprehensive; University, specialized; Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS); Others

[5] Users can find the major quantitative indicators regarding the size of the universities. The rank of the university among all Chinese universities will also be given for some of the indicators, according to ARWU, see notes 9.

[6] Relevant information: Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Its Membership (Source: CAS website http://www.cas.cn) CAS was founded in Beijing on 1 November 1949. It is a leading academic institution and comprehensive research and development center in natural science, technological science and hi-tech innovation in China. It operates over a hundred research institutes nation-wide and has over 500 private S&T enterprises spun off from its institutes. In addition to its primary role in scientific research and technological development, CAS offers graduate programs in natural sciences and applied research.

Currently in January 2009, there are 1 104 academicians and 57 foreign members, devised into 6 academic divisions (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biological, Earth Science, Technological Sciences) forming China’s highest advisory body on S&T development.

Membership of CAS is a life-long honor. New academicians are elected biennially. Total number of members to be elected in each election should not exceed 60. The quota of candidates for each division is decided by Presidium of CAS. Candidates must be senior researchers, professors, scholars or specialists in research area such as natural science, technological science or engineering, have Chinese nationality, are generally under the age of 65 years.

106+94+95

Candidates are recommended only by existing academicians of CAS or relevant departments, which refer to ministry-level departments and commissions directly under State Council, provincial governments (including autonomous regions and municipalities), Chinese Association of Science and Technology and Headquarters of People’s Liberation Army. Examination and election of candidates are done by existing members in every academic division and the voting is anonymous.

[7] Relevant information: Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and Its Membership (Source: CAE website http://www.cae.cn)

Founded in 1994, CAE is a national and independent organization composed of elected members with the highest honor in the community of engineering and technological sciences of the nation. It consists of 8 academic divisions, which includes Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering; Information and Electronic Engineering; Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering; Energy and Mining Engineering; Civil, Hydraulic and Architecture Engineering; Light and Textile Industries Engineering; Medical and Health; Engineering Management. Unlike CAS, CAE does not have its own research institutes.

As China’s premier advisory institute of engineering, it has 746 academicians and 33 foreign members (January 2009) to provide advice and guidelines on China’s engineering development. Membership of CAE is a life-long honour and it must be elected by existing members. The senior engineers, professors and other scholars or specialists who shall have the Chinese citizenship and who have made significant and creative achievements and contributions in the fields of engineering and technological sciences, are qualified for the membership of CAE. The Election of new Members is conducted biennially. Total number of Members to be elected in each election is decided by the Governing Body of CAE. Examination and election of the candidates are done in every Academy Division and the voting is anonymous.

[8] IHE background information: Who is behind the ranking? (Source: IHE website http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ranking.htm)

Institute of Higher Education (IHE) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a research centre for World Class Universities and one of the important consultative bases for Ministry of Education of China (MOE).

IHE published the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) on its website http://www.arwu.org for the first time in June 2003 and updated the ranking once a year since then. Numerous well-known higher education institutions, organizations and the media have reported or cited the ranking. There have been an average of about two thousand visitors everyday.

Original purpose of the ranking is to find out the distance between Chinese universities and world class universities, particularly in terms of academic and research performance. It has been done only for IHE’s academic interests without any outside support.

A great number of universities were involved in the ranking: 2000 universities have been scanned, including every university that has any Nobel Laureates, Fields Medals, Highly Cited Researchers or papers published on Nature or Science as well as major universities of every country with significant amount of articles indexed in major citation indices. 1000 of them were ranked and the top 500 published finally.

100 Asia Pacific Universities listed in the ranking are classified separately, which results “100 Asia Universities Ranking”.

Leader of ranking group: Prof. Liu Niancai of Shanghai Jiaotong University

[9] Relevant information: What are these different classifications?

Best 100: Universities involved in the 211 Project.

211 Project: In the mid nineties, the central government set up a national priority plan aiming at strengthening the education and research performance of about 100 institutions of higher education, which is called the “211 Project”. The special funding will be mainly raised by central departments and local governments which have the jurisdiction over the universities concerned.

Best 39: Universities involved in the National 985 Project

985 Project: At the 100 anniversary of Peking University in May of 1998, the President of China Jiang Zemin declared that China should have several world class universities, which resulted the “985 Project”. Based on 211 Project, Ministry of Education has been strengthening the support to a small number of key universities selected from 211 Project, such as Beijing University, Tsinghua University, ect., in order to build China’s world class universities. There are in total 39 universities (In addition to the 34 universities of Phase I, 4 universities were included in the Project during Phase II, launched in 2004.)

Best 9: The 9 universities in the first group of 985 Project are regarded as top Chinese universities with a far better performance in terms of research work as well as graduate education and faculty quality. They are the main candidates for becoming world class universities. (see first page of this Notes)

[10] The 50 universities who have the most cited SCI papers published in 2004 and details the numbers of SCI papers and the times of the citation can be found in www.cutech.edu.cn/paihangbang/fujian/04lw04.doc

[11] Relevant information: CDGDC and its ranking of 80 disciplines (Source: CDGDC’s official website http://www.cdgdc.edu.cn)

CDGDC (China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development) is an administrative department affiliated to the Ministry of Education, operating under the joint leadership of the Ministry of Education and the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council (ADCSC).CDGDC is a non-profit agency with independent qualification of legal entity.

One of its main tasks is to evaluate the academic degrees and graduate education, entrusted by the Ministry of Education and the Academic Degree Committee of the State Council. And when necessary, CDGDC has the authority to independently conduct the similar tasks entrusted by any social establishments.

Ranking of universities by National Key Disciplines: From 2002 to 2004, the evaluation department of CDGDC have worked on a national evaluation project on 80 primary subjects and published the final communication appraisal on its website. Universities are ranked under each of the 80 disciplines and then by the number of disciplines listed among the top 5. The approach of assessment is not specified.

[12] State Key Laboratory is evaluated by the country and every year will get fund from the country. There are round 100 State Key Laboratories in China. For more information, please see The Guide to State Key Laboratories http://www.rcuk.cn/rcuk/uploadfile/a%20guide%20to%20the%20chinese%20state%20key%20laboratories.pdf

Besides State Key Laboratory, there is also National Laboratory exist in China which is a direct investment of hundreds of millions by the country. Only 19 laboratories (by year 2006)are entitled to National Laboratory which presents the highest level of the state.

13: Source: http://www.cutech.edu.cn/cn/kjjl/gjkjjl/jltj/2009/01/1229477876507704.htm (Chinese only)

[14] The question is how to define “Partner Universities”. Here it refers to the foreign universities which have signed formal bilateral agreements with the university.