Sun Yat-sen University
University Seal, 1932-1949
National Sun Yat-sen University(Canton) – http://archives.sysu.edu.cn/index.aspx?
Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), a public educational institution in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, operates under the Ministry of Education’s oversight. It benefits from joint funding by the Ministry of Education, the Science and Technology Industry of National Defense (SASTIND), and the Government of Guangdong Province. Recognized for its excellence, SYSU is part of several national initiatives, including Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Construction program.
Established in 1924 and named in honor of Sun Yat-sen, a pivotal figure in the establishment of the Republic of China, SYSU has its primary campus in Haizhu District, Guangzhou, originally part of the old Lingnan University, founded in 1888. The university spans across five campuses located in Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen and is affiliated with ten hospitals.
SYSU’s history involves various amalgamations, divisions, and transformations involving over a dozen educational institutions. A notable amalgamation occurred in 2001 when Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Science merged with SYSU, forming the Sun Yat-sen College of Medical Science.
Originally founded as National Kwangtung University in Canton by Sun Yat-sen in 1924, it was renamed in his honor in 1926 following his demise. The university initially comprised four branches, including campuses in Wuhan, Hangzhou, and Nanking. These branches later evolved into separate prestigious institutions. In the 1930s, SYSU had seven faculties, ranging from Arts to Education, and was one of the first in China to introduce graduate education.
After the Communist Party took control of Canton in 1949, SYSU underwent significant restructuring to become a premier comprehensive university focused on liberal arts and sciences.
Martin Hall, 1907
The Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, a forerunner of the medical faculty, had its roots in the Pok Tsai Medical School, founded in 1866 and renowned as the earliest western medicine institution in China. This medical school eventually became part of Lingnan University in 1936. Another component, the Kung Yee Medical School and Hospital, founded in 1908, merged with SYSU’s medical department in 1925. These institutions combined in the 1950s, forming a comprehensive medical university, later merging with SYSU in 2001.
Lingnan University, originally a private university founded by American missionaries in 1888 in Guangzhou, was incorporated into SYSU in 1953. However, its legacy continued in Hong Kong, where it re-emerged as Lingnan University in 1999. Within SYSU, Lingnan College, re-established in 1988, has become a prominent school of economics and management.
In terms of rankings, SYSU consistently ranks high among Chinese universities in various national and international assessments. Globally, it is recognized in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, U.S. News Global University Ranking, and other notable lists. SYSU’s research output is particularly commendable, with high rankings in the Nature Index and CWTS Leiden Ranking for its contributions to scientific publications.
Wenming Road Campus, 1924-1935
Unknown author – http://www.gzzxws.gov.cn/gzws/gzws/ml/hqcc/201107/t20110720_21511.htm