Since the initiation of China’s Reform and Opening-up Policy in 1970s, Nanjing University has embraced the significant opportunities to propel its development. Nanjing University now offers a wide range of programs, from science, engineering, and medicine, to art, humanities, and social sciences.

Drawing upon its enduring spirit of pioneering and innovation, Nanjing University has led the way in higher educational reforms throughout modern Chinese history. The university has developed education and teaching theories which have a lasting impact on higher education both domestically and internationally. Notably, Nanjing University was China’s first higher learning institution to introduce co-education and enroll female students in 1920, advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment through higher education. Nanjing University is committed to reforming its system of talent training to establish the best undergraduate education in China. By prioritizing excellence in teaching, Nanjing University aims to produce graduates who are well-prepared to make significant contributions to their respective fields and exert positive impact on society.

Nanjing University excels in cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary cooperation, aiming to address global challenges. Noted for its achievements in research, the university has played a leading role in the international academic community, exploring ideas that shape history. In 1978, Hu Fuming, a prominent scholar and then a lecturer at NJU, published an influential article titled “Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth,” which sparked off China’s ideological liberation and paved the way for the Reform and Opening-up. Today, Nanjing University upholds the principle of conducting globally-significant foundational research as well as applied research that meets national strategic demands and promotes social development. The university is committed to strengthening foundational research, fostering innovation through interdisciplinary approaches, and facilitating the practical application of scientific and technological advancements, aiming to serve as a hub for groundbreaking research and drive significant scientific and technological breakthroughs.

Nanjing University has always been actively engaged in international cooperation and exchanges. As one of China’s leading universities in global engagement, Nanjing University has established close partnerships with numerous renowned universities and high-level research institutions worldwide. It is among the first Chinese universities to attract international faculty and enroll international students. In the 1980s, Nanjing University collaborated with Johns Hopkins University to establish the Johns Hopkins University–Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies, the first joint international higher education institution in China following the country’s Reform and Opening up. Today, Nanjing University is steadily expanding its global partnerships and aims to develop its campuses into attractive, inclusive, and dynamic spaces that foster international exchanges and collaborations among individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

President Xi Jinping places high expectations on Nanjing University to become a world-class university and to better serve the nation and its people. Inspired by President Xi’s encouragement, Nanjing University is dedicated to continuous growth and progress. In November 2022, Nanjing University organized a two-month-long brainstorming discussion through the whole university to address current challenges and to chart the new course for future development. In early 2023, Nanjing University launched a grand-new initiative ,“the Forging Ahead Initiative,” based on the collective wisdom and efforts of the university community. At present, the NJU community is passionately committed to a shared goal: to develop Nanjing University into a truly world-class university.

Today, the University’s abbreviation “NJU” reinterprets the school beyond its well-known acronym. It not only stands for Nanjing University, but also stands for “Now Join Us,” and to promote a joint future together, “New Journey United.” We look forward to joining hands with you on this new journey towards the betterment of the nation, the world, and humanity, as well as the realization of a community with a shared future for mankind!

Professor TAN Tieniu	Professor TAN Zhemin
Secretary of the CPC Nanjing University Committee	President, Nanjing University