Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU) is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities of agricultural sciences under the administration of the Ministry of Education of P. R. China. The earliest roots of the university could be traced back to 1902 to the Departmentof Agriculture of Sanjiang Normal School. It is proud of being the pioneer of modern agricultural education, research and extension and forerunner of four-year bachelor program in higher agricultural education in China.
The mission of NAU is to create a dynamic learning and research environment for its students and staff members. It is committed to developing and disseminating scientific knowledge and providing the society with quality personnel of teaching, scientific research and extension, who can contribute to the sustainable and productive development in China. It means that the physical, social and cultural environment of the campus should be both stimulating and caring in response to the increasing needs of the students. Therefore, NAU is committed to the innovative improvements in the quality of its educational programs and research activities as well as active participation in local, national and international society. Interdisciplinary research and education is strongly promoted at the university. Undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in SRT (Scientific Research Training) program to upgrade their research skills. Graduate education has developed very fast since the establishment of the Graduate School in 2000, which makes NAU one of the 56 universities with graduate schools among more than 1000 universities and colleges in China.
NAU has an excellent track record in international exchange and cooperation. The earliest cooperation since the 1920s with Cornell University of USA in the field of crop production incubated the State Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement at the university and the National Center of Soybean Improvement. The university maintains close relationships with more than 100 universities around the world. Through inter-institutional exchange and cooperation, new initiatives are fostered for cooperative research. NAU staff is actively involved in the application of research projects funded by governmental and non-governmental sources, such as the sino-foreign governmental framework programs, Asian Link, Asian Facility, Framework Program of the EU and McKnight Foundation in the USA.
Today’s NAU is:
- A multi-disciplinary, national key university under the administration of the Ministry of Education.
- Being selected into the National “Double First-class”Initiative in 2017 (“world-class university” and “world-class discipline”, a new impetus for the development of China’s higher education sector).One of the Innovation Platforms for Outstanding Disciplines listed under the National 985 Excellence Initiative Project.
- Ranked No.9 in the latest ranking of Best Global Universities for Agricultural Sciences” by U.S. News & World Report in 2017.
- Ranks 47th in the world in Agriculture & Forestry according to the 2018 QS World University Rankings by Subject. This marks the first time NAU has been named among the world’s top 50 universities in one of its core teaching and research areas.
- Among the top 1% of institutions in the fields of E nvironment & Ecology, Biology & Biochemistry, Engineering, Microbiology,and Molecular Biology and Genetics according to a recent analysis of research citations by Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators (ESI). Moreover, the Agricultural Science and Plant & Animal Science of NAU has reached top 1‰.
- Committed to a blueprint of promoting leading-edge academics, cultivating innovative and entrepreneurial talents, and emerging as a regional hub for international academic exchange and cooperation.
