China's Minzu Univ: Serving students from ethnic groups

Minzu University of China, the only institution of higher education that boasts a faculty and students from all the 56 ethnic groups in the country, has been serving as a symbol of unity and development.
Under the direct jurisdiction of State Ethnic Affairs Commission (SEAC) and the joint administration of Ministry of Education (MOE) and Beijing Municipal People's government, it enjoys priority support from the central government through both 211 and 985 programmes.
Project 211 is the Chinese government's endeavour aimed at strengthening about 100 institutions of higher education and key disciplinary areas as a national policy for the 21st century.

985 is a constructive project for founding world-class universities in the 21st century.
Founded in 1951 as the Central Institute for Nationalities, the university has adopted a very unique higher education system for ethnic minorities.
It was named Minzu University in 1993.

"As a national research base for Chinese ethnic issues, a training centre for ethnic minority talents and a platform for presenting ethnic culture quintessence, Minzu University is both the miniature for the family of 56 ethnic groups and the symbol for unity and development of all these groups," Song Min, vice president of the university, told a group of visiting foreign journalists.

At present, there are 23 schools and 55 undergraduate programmes in 10 major categories of disciplines covering philosophy, economy, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, management and arts.
"The undergraduate programmes incorporate all disciplines except military and agriculture," said Song.
There are three priority disciplines at national level, 13 priority disciplines designated by SEAC and by Beijing municipal government, and seven priority disciplines supported by '211' programme.
There are six research centres and four research and innovation platforms financed by '985 programme'.
Most general courses are taught in Mandarin.
"Our programmes also provide courses in 82 languages," Song said.
There are 17,000 students in the university, with 11,000 of them in undergraduate courses. There are also 1000 foreign students.

She said the university provides a good service for the healthy growth of its students on a solid platform - a good campus environment.
"Students celebrate their own festivals. They wear their ethnic clothes.
One unique thing in the campus is that the religious beliefs of everyone are respected," she said.