Nanjing University (NJU), one of China's key comprehensive universities under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education, dates from 1902 when it was known as Sanjiang Normal School. During the following decades, it evolved as Liangjiang Normal School, Nanjing Higher Normal School, National Southeast University, the Fourth Zhongshan University, and National Central University. In October 1950, as required by the Ministry of Education, the name was changed to Nanjing University (NJU). In 1952, due to the nationwide restructuring of colleges and universities, some academic units such as the School of Engineering and the School of Agriculture were separated from the university; meanwhile, it merged with the School of Liberal Arts and the School of Sciences of the University of Nanking founded in 1888. Its name remained while its campus moved from Sipailou to Gulou.

As a top university in China, the university boasts advanced teaching and research facilities. In its over 100 years’ history, NJU has cultivated a great number of prominent and learned figures, and thus has greatly contributed to the nation’s revitalization and development.

With its multi-disciplinary programs and distinguished faculty, NJU leads the institutions of higher learning in China. Statistics show that since 1992, the number of research papers by NJU faculty and students on the Science Citation Index (SCI) has ranked the first among universities in Mainland China for seven consecutive years. So did the number of the articles cited by international academic circles for eight years. In the past decade, NJU has won more than 800 national, ministerial and provincial awards, including over 40 National Awards of Natural Sciences, Awards of Science and Technology Progress, and Awards of Innovation.

NJU has made remarkable achievements in student education. Its current student body totals around 43,477 (12,655 undergraduates, 11,030 graduates). NJU students have been demonstrating their cutting-edge competitiveness in various competitions inside and outside of China. The university provides good facilities for both teaching and research work. Its library, one of the largest of its kind in China, has a collection of over 4.654 million volumes.

In addition to the excellence in teaching and research work, NJU is also known for its vigorous exchanges with the outside world. Starting from 1979, it has established academic links with more than 200 universities and research institutes in around 70 countries, and hosted over 120 international conferences. Nearly 2,500 faculty members have been abroad to pursue higher degrees or conduct research work, while over 1,800 international scholars have taught or lectured and more than 18,000 international students studied on NJU campus.

NJU never ceased its efforts to explore possible modes of cooperation and to learn from international experiences in teaching, researching and management. Such efforts resulted in the founding of the Center for Chinese and American Studies, the Sino-German Institute for Law Studies, and the Lab of Multi-Media Distance Teaching System. Regarded as "an overseas campus on the Chinese land," the Center for Chinese and American Studies has become a successful example of educational cooperation between China and the United States, and received much attention and acclamation from governments of both countries.

During its development, NJU has gained continuous support from both the government and the general public. In his 1992 visit, President Jiang Zemin encouraged NJU, as an educational and research center, to reach the world standards while preserving its own unique features. In 1994, NJU was among the first group of universities in the "Project 211" (which aimed at upgrading 100 Chinese universities into the world-class ones). In July 1999 and October 2006, agreements were signed between the Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Provincial Government to jointly support NJU’s future development.

In the following days, NJU will deepen its reforms while carrying on its traditions. Aiming at excellence and innovativeness, it is headed for a world-class comprehensive research university with a global vision, and thus it will play a more prominent role in China’s rise in the 21st century.