Northwest A&F University

Northwest A&F University (NWAFU; Chinese: 西北农林科技大学; lit. 'Northwestern Agricultural and Forestry Science and Technology University') is a national public university located in Xianyang, Shaanxi, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education of China. The university is part of Project 985, Project 211, and the Double First Class University Plan.

Northwest A&F University
西北农林科技大学
Motto诚朴勇毅
Motto in English
Be honest, modest, brave and resolute
TypePublic
Established20 April 1934 (1934-04-20)
Endowment358 million RMB (research only, Year 2012)[1]
PresidentProfessor Pute Wu (吴普特）
Students28964[2]
Location
Xianyang, Shaanxi
,
China
CampusUrban, 3,944,638 m²(3.94 km²)
ColorsGreen
 
Nickname西农
Websitenwafu.edu.cn
nwsuaf.edu.cn
Northwest A&F University
Simplified Chinese西北农林科技大学
Traditional Chinese西北農林科技大學

By April 2013, the university had 1661 faculty members and 28,964 students.[2]

History

Origins and re-organization

Northwest A&F University originated from National Northwest Junior College of Agriculture and Forestry founded in 1934, which was the earliest institution of higher agriculture and forestry education in northwest China. Since its establishment, NWAFU has been closely bound up with the fate of the country and the nation, assuming the responsibility of rejuvenating northwest China, boosting agricultural prosperity, and cultivating talents.

In September 1999, Northwest A&F University was established by merging five scientific research institutions and two universities in Yangling, Shaanxi Province, namely

  1. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  2. Northwest China Institute of Water Resource Sciences, Ministry of Water Resources of China
  3. Shaanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences
  4. Shaanxi Academy of Forestry
  5. Northwest China Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shaanxi Province
  6. Northwest Agricultural University
  7. Northwest Forestry College.

The 7 members involved in re-organization were very close to each other historically. Northwest Agricultural University has the biggest area and the longest history out of 7 members and are the origin of Institute of Water Resource Sciences (Northwest China) and Northwest Forestry College. Her history can be dated back to 1934(Year 23 in Minguo calendar) when National Northwest Senior College of Agriculture and Forestry (the predecessor of Northwest Agricultural University) was founded by the Senior Politician of Kuomintang Mr. Yu Youren, Kuomintang veteran member Dai Jitao, Kuomintang General Yang Hucheng. In 1937 and 1938, the Senior College merged with College of Agriculture of National Northwest Associated University and Department of Animal Husbandry in College of Agriculture of National Henan University (河南大学) respectively, then was renamed as National Northwest Agricultural College. Meanwhile, Department of Water Conservancy of National Lanzhou University (兰州大学) joined the college. Following the establishment of P.R.China in 1949, "National" was deleted from the college name although it remains a government funded academic school. In 1952, Department of Agricultural Water Conservancy was partially given to Xi'an Jiaotong University (西安交通大学) under the order of The State Council. 2 years later, the remained Department of Agricultural Water Conservancy became an independent academic institution which is the mold of Institute of Water Resource Sciences (Northwest China). In 1979, Northwest Forestry College came out to be an independent school from Department of Forestry in Northwest Agricultural College. In 1985, with the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fishery, the university name changed to be Northwest Agricultural University.
Other institutions have relatively shorter history. Institute of Botany (Northwest China) became an independent academy from Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (founded in 1956) in 1965. In 1980, Shaanxi Academy of Forestry got separated from Shaanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences (founded in 1952).

The State Council agreed to merge 7 organizations as new Northwest A&F University[3] in a reply to the proposal drafted by Ministry of Education and Shaanxi Province Government. A financial budget of 600,000,000 RMB was granted as start fund and further investment plan as well as related issue such as reshuffle were also briefly stated in this official reply. On 11 September 1999, a central government delegation led by Vice Premier Li Lanqing attended the opening ceremony and made the announcement.

List of presidents

Chancellor/Communist Party Committee Secretary since new A&F(1999)

President
  • September 1999 – August 2003 Mr. Chen, Zongxing (陈宗兴)
  • August 2003 – January 2011 Professor. Sun, Wuxue (孙武学)
  • January 2011 – July 2017 Professor Sun, Qixin (孙其信)
  • December 2017 - present Professor Wu, Pute (吴普特)
Communist Party Committee Secretary of A&F
  • September 1999 – August 2003 Professor Sun, Wuxue (孙武学)
  • August 2003 – May 2013 Professor. Zhang, Guangqiang (张光强)
  • May 2013 – August 2015 Dr. Liang, Gui (梁桂)
  • August 2015 – present Mr. Li, Xingwang (李兴旺)

Academic colleges

The university is composed of 23 academic faculties (colleges, schools or departments) including Institute of Water and Soil Conservation, and Institute of Ideological and Political Education. These colleges, departments and schools are in charge of undergraduate studies, offering 3,000 courses. All of them are listed below:

Campus and students life
Office Building, South Campus
NO.3 Teaching Building, North Campus. The name of National Northwest Senior College of Agriculture and Forestry, written by Dai Jitao, is still readable after around 80 years.

The university urban area is around 3.94 km2, covering two main campuses: North Campus and South Campus. Besides, Institute of Water and Soil Conservation, College of Food Science and Engineering and College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering have their own independent campuses for administrative affairs and research respectively.

Inside view of Science and Research Building, South Campus

Generally, South Campus hosts study and living facilities for senior undergraduates from College of Agriculture, College of Horticulture, College of Forestry, College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, College of Resource and Environment and College of Economics and Management. All students from International School, most of postgraduates, undergraduates from Department of Arts (Landscape Arts Design) and all students from College of Vocational and Adult Education also live and study in South Campus.

Agriculture Science Building, South Campus. This magnificent building will be used as labs by 4 agriculture science-related academic colleges.

Although North Campus is mainly for undergraduates of other colleges, some postgraduates move to North Campus for their research since they become the 2nd year students. On South Campus, Agriculture Science Building, Social Science Building, new apartments as well as students facilities are under construction now. Study and living environment will be greatly improved when these buildings are available. Besides, A&F provides vehicles (small bus) to ferry students and staff between South Campus and North Campus on a daily schedule.

The Gate of Museums Garden, South Campus

The Museum Garden (a collection of 5 museums including insects, animals, plants, soil and China's agricultural history) is located beside South Campus. The Insects Museum holds the most extensive collection of butterflies in China's Universities. This garden is also the greatest Agriculture-themed museum area in China. Besides its teaching role for A&F students, this garden is also serving as a popular science centre in Shaanxi Province and attracts thousands of visitors especially young students every year.

Entomology Museum, South Campus

A&F provides convenient sports facilities to staff and students. Across the campuses, there are 12 tennis courts, 1 indoor stadium, 2 outdoor stadiums, 1 arena for volleyball and basketball, 2 outdoor swimming pools, 48 outdoor basketball courts, 28 outdoor volleyball courts, several badminton courts and 143 outdoor tables for Ping-Pong. Tennis is popular across the campus and tennis championships are held every year. A&F also supports College Students Basketball and Volleyball Team to gain reputation in CUBA (Chinese University Basketball Association) and CUVA (Chinese University Volleyball Association).

Indoor Stadium, South Campus
Swimming Pool, South Campus

The university library was initially launched in 1934 and got extended in 1999 when new A&F was established. In both North and South Campus, the well equipped air-conditioning system in the library makes it a popular site for students' study, especially in summer. A training centre for engineering in North Campus provides engineering courses and practices to all undergraduates, especially students majored at mechanics and electronics. At the heart of North Campus stands the tallest building of A&F, the ten-storey NO. 8 Teaching Building. Along with its 12 subsidiary great lecture halls, they serve as the teaching centre in North Campus.

Library, South Campus

Chefs in 11 cafeterias scattered in the 2 main campuses cook breakfast, lunch and supper to students and staff every day in each term. However, the cafeterias are usually very busy and crowded at dining time. Among these cafeterias, 2 Muslim cafeterias are specially built to cater for the needs of Muslim group. Food safety in these cafeterias is seriously controlled to provide good quality food. Campus Card (a campus identity card which acts like a Debit card to facilitate payment across campuses) is needed to buy food in all cafeterias but cash is also accepted.

Totally 48 dorm buildings are available for students. For Chinese students, 4 or 6 students share 1 bedroom while international students live in single or double bedroom equipped with bathroom and toilet (the price is much higher). Air conditioning in all students dormitories will be available since summer of 2015. As a part of International A&F project, new apartments for international students and foreign experts will be ready since 2015. All apartments and dormitories are centrally heated in winter from 15 November to 15 March next year.

Campus events are usually hold in Xiu-Shan Students Venue Centre in North and South Campus. Xiu-Shan was named after Xiu-Shan Zhu, the father of a Taiwanese entrepreneur Yinglong Zhu who endowed NWAFU. Now, Xiu-Shan Students Venue is an important place for campus events such as exhibition, concert, gala and conferences.

  • Chinese Students Dormitory Building, South Campus
    Chinese Students Dormitory Building, South Campus
  • One Apartment for International Students, South Campus
    One Apartment for International Students, South Campus
  • Seasons Square, South Campus
    Seasons Square, South Campus
  • Xiu-Shan Students Venue Centre, South Campus
    Xiu-Shan Students Venue Centre, South Campus

Rankings and reputation
University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World[4]301-400 (2023)
USNWR Global[5]590 (2023)
Regional – Overall
USNWR Asia[5]128 (2023)
National – Overall
USNWR National[5]56 (2023)

The university ranks as Top 3 research and teaching quality in China's agriculture universities[6] and is a member of "Project 985" club which is an organization of 39 reputable universities in China. Northwest A&F University's research achievements are dominant in the fields of agriculture biology including wheat breeding, entomology, agriculture resource management, horticulture, plant protection, food science (especially in Enology), forestry and veterinary. Besides, the university is also reputable in agricultural water conservancy, agriculture economics and management, agriculture mechanics and information engineering and ancient agricultural history research.[7]

In 2017, Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked the university within the 801-1000 band globally.[8]

The overall global ranking of NWAFU by the U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Rankings 2023 is 590.[9]

In 2023, Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranked the university at 301-400 band globally.[7]

In 2022, the "Agriculture Science" subject was ranked 11th globally by U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Rankings 2022. Meanwhile, "Plant and Animal Science" was ranked 86th globally by the same ranking.

Regarding scientific research output, the Nature Index 2022 placed NWAFU 334th in the world.[10]

Global Subject Rankings ARWU 2022[7] U.S. News & World Report 2022[9]
Agricultural Sciences 3 11
Water Resources 8 N/A
Food Science & Technology 9 18
Veterinary Sciences 16 N/A
Plant and Animal Science N/A 86
Biotechnology 51-75 N/A
Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology N/A 45

See also

References
  1. 2013年新春献辞
  2. 2012-2013学年初学校基本数据
  3. "国务院办公厅关于组建西北农林科技大学的复函". www.gov.cn. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. "ARWU World University Rankings 2023 - Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023 - Top 1000 universities - Shanghai Ranking - 2023". Shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  5. "Northwest A&F University". US News Best Global Universities. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  6. http://edu.qq.com/a/20120416/000438.htm 武书连2012中国大学农学排行榜
  7. "ShanghaiRanking-Univiersities". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  8. "World University Rankings". Times Higher Education (THE). 2017-08-18. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  9. "U.S. News & World Report Global University Rankings". Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  10. "Nature Index: Institution research output table". 2023.

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