By WEN CHAO & WEN MING

FOUNDED on November 21, 1996, Jiamusi University incorporates the Jiamusi Medical Institute, the Jiamusi Engineering Institute, the Jiamusi Teachers' School and the former Jiamusi University. It is the largest provincial-level university in Heilongjiang Province, and has a high educational level, the largest number of disciplines, and the full range of general higher education, postgraduate education and adult education.

Located by the scenic Songhua River, Jiamusi University occupies an area of 1.1 million square meters, and its campus is bestrewn with lawns, flowerbeds and trees. Its well-equipped teaching buildings, pleasant dormitories, efficient service facilities and the modern stadium soon to be completed make it an ideal place to pursue studies and carry out academic research.

The university has 14 teaching institutes, 5 clinical medical institutes and one adult teaching institute -- a total of 33 departments. Among the 72 disciplines and programs are 6 provincial-level key disciplines, 4 provincial-level key programs and 12 provincial-level key courses. There are a further 17 master's degree programs, including literature, engineering, science, law, medicine, history, economics, education, and management. Among the 4,783 faculty, 296 have senior academic titles and 842 have sub-senior academic titles. There are now over 18,000 full-time students at the university.

Jiamusi University has cultivated a shoal of experts and scholars that enjoy international reputation. Among them are scientists of the older generation, such as bio-geneticist Lu Xuexian, pedologist Li Shuchun, immunologist Yang Jingyun, entomologist Zhang Yuqi and geographer Xu Qinghua, as well as young and middle-aged experts, including Ren Fujun, Zhu Xiaofeng, Li Xiaojie and Li Muqin.

Jiamusi University also takes basic education very seriously, and has its own affiliated primary and middle schools.

The university holds firmly to its main function of teaching, and has carried out extensive pedagogic research. It has achieved over 200 scientific research results, and won 240 awards at home and abroad. Professor Yan Zhaoping's invention -- the new-type thrust annular contact rolling bearing -- was one of the key scientific and technological projects during the Ninth Five-Year Plan period. The university's cast-in pick technology filled a large technological gap in China, and it is also one of China's leaders in the field of cerebral palsy treatment.

The university stresses the need to incorporate natural sciences and the humanities, as well as for international exchanges of advanced sciences and technologies. It operates several schooling modes, including the major system, the elective system and the tutorial system. Cultural activities are encouraged on campus to foster talents in all directions, and an innovative spirit.

Jiamusi University is gradually making its way towards becoming a modern comprehensive university, when it can make still greater contributions to the prosperity of the province and the nation.