University's ethos the secret to success

The history of Taiyuan University of Technology in Taiyuan, Shanxi province goes back to 1902 when it was called the Western Studies School of Shanxi Grand Academy, one of the three earliest national universities in China.

Shanxi Grand Academy was later called Shanxi University, which had two schools for Chinese and Western studies.

Taiyuan University of Technology, known as TUT, grew out of one of the schools and became an independent university in 1953.

With traditions and development going back more than 100 years, TUT is now a university included in Project 211 - the national higher education promotion program for the top 100 universities in China.

TUT admits students from across the country. Currently, it has nearly 27,000 full-time undergraduates, 5,000 postgraduates and more than 700 PhD students.

The university has 76 undergraduate disciplines, 126 master's degree programs, 49 doctorate programs and 13 post-doctorate research centers. It has three national authorized important disciplines and four State-level educational demonstration centers.

The Ministry of Science and Technology listed the international research center on sustainable development of coal resources at TUT as a national scientific cooperation base.

The university has 2,116 full-time teaching staff, of which 1,096 have doctorate degrees. There are 967 professors and associate professors, 181 doctoral supervisors, three national outstanding specialists and three winners of the Chinese Young Scientists Award.

TUT places importance on scientific research and technology development. The university, as the chief science institution, has carried out the 973 Research Project, a key national program on basic scientific research, twice.

It is also involved in 945 national research projects, including the national 863 High-tech Project, National Scientific Trouble-shooting Projects and National Young Scientist Fund. It has received 434 national and provincial level awards for scientific breakthroughs and 132 awards for teaching achievements.

The achievements offer technology and expertise for regional and national development, according to TUT.

The university holds onto its long-term ethos that humanity should be the essence and culture to fight for all-around development of intellect and morality.

Guided by the ethos, the university has won a range of awards in various sports and cultural competitions.

TUT has stepped up eforts in international cooperation by enrolling students from all over the world, exchanging its students with universities in other countries and running joint-education programs with overseas colleges and universities.

TUT cooperates with countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, Russia, France, Italy and Japan.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/29/2015 page10)