South-Central Minzu University (SCMU) operates under the direct administration of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission and is jointly supported by the Commission, the Ministry of Education, Hubei provincial government, and Wuhan municipal government. As a National First-Class University in Hubei Province, SCMU steadfastly adheres to socialist educational principles while implementing the Party’s educational and ethnic policies. With its core mission of consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation, SCMU strives to become a world-class, and comprehensive modern university committed to serving the people.

The university has distinguished itself as a leader in ethnic education and research, a pioneer in high-quality development among ethnic institutions, and a key contributor to regional socioeconomic development. SCMU has received numerous prestigious national awards, including the National Model Unit for Ethnic Unity and Progress, National Model Collective for Ethnic Unity and Progress, and National Demonstration University for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Reform. Since 2001, the university has been consistently recognized as Hubei Province’s Best Civilized Institution (Campus) for nine consecutive terms.

Inheriting the Red Gene

South-Central Minzu University traces its origins to the Ethnic College established in Yan’an in 1941. In 1951, building upon Zhongyuan University, it began operations in Wuhan, later developing into South-Central College for Nationalities, and was renamed South-Central Minzu University in March 2002. Born amid the flames of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the university has consistently stood at the forefront of the Chinese nation’s pursuit of independence, liberation, and prosperity. It has fulfilled its founding mission of “cultivating talent for the Party and nurturing professionals for the nation”, embodying the spirit of “following the Party’s leadership to break new ground and educating talent for the people”. This represents a successful practice of the Chinese Communist Party in establishing universities with deep roots in Chinese soil.

The university has always shared the same destiny with the Party and the nation, continuously perfecting its comprehensive educational system that emphasizes moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor development. It guides young students to stay grounded among the people, serve the nation, strengthen their ideological convictions, and cultivate deep patriotic sentiments. Since its establishment, the university has educated more than 200,000 high-caliber professionals. Its distinguished alumni include delegates to the 20th Party Congress, National People’s Congress representatives, National Model Individuals for Ethnic Unity and Progress, Changjiang Scholars, National Outstanding Young Researchers, Top 10 News Figures among College Village Officials, and Model Chinese University Students of Self-improvement, demonstrating remarkable achievements in moral education and talent cultivation.

Strengthening Educational Foundations

Located on the shores of South Lake in Wuhan—the homeland of White Clouds and Yellow Cranes—South-Central Minzu University spans over 1,700 mu with building space exceeding 1.15 million square meters. The campus features shaded pathways and year-round blooms, with modern buildings showcasing rich ethnic characteristics arranged in harmonious succession. The natural beauty of lakes and hills complements the cultural landscape, creating an ideal environment for teaching, research, and campus life.

The university currently enrolls over 30,000 full-time students from all 56 ethnic groups across doctoral, master’s, undergraduate, and preparatory programs. It employs more than 2,100 faculty and staff members, including over 1,300 full-time teachers. The university has attracted and cultivated numerous high-level talents, including National Distinguished Young Scholars, National Excellence Young Scholars, and National Leading Talents in Philosophy and Social Sciences. Its outstanding faculty includes National Model Teachers, National Teaching Ethics Pioneers, Huang Danian-Style Teaching Teams, National Ethnic Affairs Commission’s “Three-All Education” Model Teachers, and Hubei Province’s Top Ten Class Advisors.

Ethnic Studies has achieved an A-category rating in the Ministry of Education’s discipline evaluation, while Marxist Theory has secured a B-category rating. Three disciplines—Ethnic Studies, Chemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences—have been selected as Hubei Province First-Class Disciplines. Four disciplines—Chemistry, Engineering, Materials Science, and Environmental & Ecological Sciences—rank among the global top 1% in ESI rankings. The university offers six first-level doctoral programs, 26 academic master’s programs, and 26 professional master’s programs. Its undergraduate education covers 72 majors across 10 disciplines, with 52 First-Class Undergraduate Program Development sites (including 24 national-level ones). Environmental Engineering and Computer Science & Technology have received professional engineering education certification. The university has been awarded four National New Engineering projects, five New Agricultural projects, and four New Liberal Arts projects, along with 15 national-level and 92 provincial-level First-Class Undergraduate Courses, and two national-level demonstration projects for ideological and political education in curriculum.

Embracing an open educational approach, the university participates in the Yanhe Collegiate League of Talent Cultivation, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor University Alliance, and China-Japan Humanities Exchange University Alliance. It maintains in-depth cooperation through joint training and exchange programs with dozens of domestic institutions, including Wuhan University, Renmin University of China, Chongqing University, Beijing Institute of Technology, China Agricultural University, and Minzu University of China. The university has established talent development partnerships with over 300 local governments and organizations, and maintains academic exchange relationships with more than 70 overseas universities, creating an optimal environment for talent cultivation with excellent faculty resources and development opportunities.

Advancing Research Innovation

Over the past five years, South-Central Minzu University has secured 304 national-level research projects, including 40 major and key projects. The university’s academic output includes over 2,800 high-quality research papers and 280 high-level academic monographs. Its research achievements are further demonstrated by 808 authorized invention patents and 122 provincial and ministerial-level scientific research awards. In 2024, the university participated in winning a Second Prize of the National Technology Invention Award.

The university has established several national-level platforms under the guidance of four central ministries and commissions, including the Research Base for Consolidating a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation, the Teacher Development Demonstration Center, the National Language and Script Promotion Base, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Centers for Ethnic Arts and Ethnic Pharmacy, National Technology Business Incubator, National Demonstration Base for “Internet+Chinese Civilization”, and National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Practice Base.

The university ranked 90th nationally in Chinese Core Journal paper publications in 2023, and placed 99th among mainland universities in the Nature Index 2023. Both the Humanities & Social Sciences and Natural Sciences editions of the university journal have been selected as Grade A publications in the RCCSE China Core Academic Journals.

Expanding Social Impact

In 2012, South-Central Minzu University was designated as a National Teacher Development Demonstration Center, notably as the only non- “985/211” institution to receive this recognition. The university has achieved excellent ratings in four consecutive Ministry of Education undergraduate teaching evaluations in 2001, 2006, 2016, and 2024. Its achievements in talent cultivation were showcased in the “Five Years of Determined Progress” major achievement exhibition organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and other departments.

In recent years, the university has undertaken the development planning for the “13th Five-Year Plan” supporting less populous ethnic groups, utilizing its research strengths to establish multiple platforms serving industrial development in ethnic regions. The university implemented the “1221” Targeted Poverty Alleviation Project and coordinated various initiatives, including the National Ethnic Affairs Commission’s Wuling Mountain Area liaison program, Hubei Province’s “616” Counterpart Support Project, the Three Gorges Reservoir Resettlement Project, village work teams, doctoral service groups, the “Three Ten Thousands” campaign, technology deputy county mayor program, and the talent support plan for high-quality primary-level development.

The university has provided targeted assistance for basic education in Badong County, Debao County, and Enshi City, deploying 150 administrators and teachers and investing over 55 million yuan in specialized poverty alleviation funds. Strategic cooperation agreements have been signed with local governments and ethnic regions including Enshi Prefecture, Tongren City, Zhangjiajie City, Xiangxi Prefecture, Huaihua City, and Qianxinan Prefecture. These partnerships strengthen comprehensive cooperation in talent cultivation, think tank services, scientific research and achievement transformation, cultural development, and agricultural product marketing channels with regions such as the Wuling Mountain Area, Debao County, Badong County, Le’an County, and Balin Right Banner.

Legacy and Future Vision

Since its founding, generations of SCMU community members have pioneered through hardships and persevered in their endeavors, fostering a campus culture of “Dedicated Learning and Natural Harmony” and forging an entrepreneurial spirit of “Vigorous Progress and Pursuit of Excellence”.

As we enter a new era and embark on a new journey, South-Central Minzu University continues to be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Embracing the new stage of development and implementing new development concepts, the university maintains its focus on consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation and upholds moral education as its fundamental task. The university adheres to the “Four Services” educational requirements and thoroughly implements its strategic initiatives of “Building the University through Quality, Strengthening the University through Disciplines, Empowering the University through Talent, and Distinguishing the University through Characteristics”.

The university is accelerating its development into a first-class, people-oriented modern comprehensive university. It is dedicated to cultivating socialist builders and successors who are well-developed in moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor dimensions, contributing SCMU’s strength to consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

(Updated November 2024, Source: Party and Administration Office)