Related stories

Open House for "International People" Finding The Right Tone: Options for Learning Chinese in China - Part 2 Choose a Dream School for Your Children Beijing Foreigner's Sports Carnival 2008 Warming Up for A Healther Life

Integrated Study Programs for Normal University

Beijing Normal University, a pioneer of China's teacher-training colleges, is introducing a "strategic transformation" plan as part of this year's centennial anniversary. It will develop integrated study programs that will both set it apart from other universities, and help it enjoy international recognition by 2015, when it will begin to focus on research.

Explained university president Zhong Binglin: "The university is under pressure to get in line with the standards for collegiate teacher-training worldwide, and for education reform in China." He said the pressure stems from increasingly fierce competition for human resources in the international arena following China's accession to the World Trade Organization, and from other domestic universities which also offer educational courses.

During the transformation, the university will increase the number of its practical courses and integrate different areas of study. More study programs, not concerned with teacher training, will be added.

Founded in 1902, the university has trained numerous outstanding teachers over the decades, including famous scholars such as Liang Qichao, Lu Xun, Li Dazhao and Bai Shouyi.