Northeast Agricultural University

Northeast Agricultural University is a national Double First-Class university with strengths in agricultural sciences, distinctive features in life sciences and food science, and coordinated development across agriculture, engineering, science, economics, management and other disciplines. Founded in Harbin in 1948 as Northeast Agricultural College, it was the first regular agricultural institution of higher education established by the Communist Party of China. Its first president was Liu Da, a renowned educator and the first mayor of Harbin. Since its founding, it has successively been administered by the Agriculture Department of the Northeast Administrative Committee, the national Ministry of Higher Education, the national Ministry of Agriculture, the Heilongjiang Provincial Agricultural Commission and the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Education. In 1981, it was designated a provincial key institution of Heilongjiang. In 1994, it merged with Heilongjiang Agricultural Management Cadre College to form Northeast Agricultural University. It joined the national Project 211 key university initiative in 1996, received an Excellent rating in the Ministry of Education’s undergraduate teaching evaluation in 2004, became jointly supported by the Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2011, and was selected for the Central and Western China Higher Education Basic Capacity Building Project in 2013. It was selected for the national world-class discipline initiative in 2017 and for the second round of the national Double First-Class initiative in 2022.

The university has 17 colleges and 1 teaching department. It has 1 national world-class development discipline, 3 national key disciplines, 3 national key disciplines under cultivation, 2 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs key disciplines, 12 Heilongjiang advantageous and distinctive disciplines, 1 subject area in the global ESI top 1‰, and 8 subject areas in the global ESI top 1%. It was among China’s first universities authorized to award doctoral and master’s degrees. It currently has 12 first-level disciplines authorized to award doctoral degrees and 21 authorized to award master’s degrees; 3 professional doctoral degree categories and 18 professional master’s degree categories; 10 postdoctoral research stations and 2 postdoctoral workstations; and 75 undergraduate programs. These include 10 nationally distinctive programs, 24 national first-class undergraduate program development sites, 43 provincial first-class undergraduate program development sites, 1 national pilot program for comprehensive reform, and 4 programs accredited in engineering education.

The university has 1 583 full-time teachers, including 352 professors and 581 associate professors; 1 116 hold doctoral degrees and 400 hold master’s degrees. Its staff have received 116 national talent distinctions and 262 provincial talent distinctions. It has 2 Ministry of Education innovation teams, 4 outstanding agricultural research talent teams selected in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ second round, 2 national teaching teams, 3 national Huang Danian-style university faculty teams, 5 Heilongjiang Leading Goose teams, and 354 doctoral supervisors.

The university has 33 534 full-time students, including 24 940 undergraduates, 8 354 postgraduate students and 240 international students. It was among the first pilot universities under the Excellent Agricultural and Forestry Talent Education and Training Program. It has 2 national experimental zones for innovation in talent training models, 2 national excellent agricultural and forestry talent training projects, 34 national courses, 3 national demonstration projects integrating ideological and political education into curricula, 5 national research and reform practice projects in new agricultural sciences, 3 in new engineering, and 2 in new liberal arts; 5 national experimental teaching demonstration centers, 4 national off-campus practical education bases for university students, 4 national agriculture-science-education cooperative talent training bases, 10 national Science and Technology Backyards, 1 national demonstration practical education base for agricultural professional degree postgraduates, 1 national distinctive practical education base for agricultural professional degree postgraduates, and 1 national virtual teaching and research office development project. It has produced 5 nationally planned textbooks with its staff as first chief editors, 1 outstanding textbook in the National Textbook Development Awards with its staff as first chief editor, 1 National Advanced Individual in Textbook Development, and 15 outstanding textbooks in the first Heilongjiang Textbook Development Awards. It has 1 national university student science and technology entrepreneurship internship base. It has received 1 National Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation award in the “100 Best” selection and 4 nominations. Since its founding, it has trained many outstanding people, including innovative talent working at the forefront of global science and technology, multidisciplinary talent across China, and applied professionals active on the front lines of agricultural production in Heilongjiang and throughout the country.

The university has 73 research platforms at provincial or ministerial level or above. These include 1 national key laboratory (as one of its host institutions), 1 national engineering research center, 2 national engineering technology research centers, 1 Ministry of Education engineering research center, 3 Ministry of Education key laboratories, 1 Ministry of Education international joint laboratory, 1 Ministry of Education collaborative innovation center jointly supported by a province and ministry, 7 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs key laboratories, 2 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs regional experimental stations, 3 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs agricultural science observation and experimental stations, 4 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs research bases, 1 Ministry of Science and Technology innovative talent training base, and 1 university base for commercialization of scientific and technological achievements and technology transfer. It has 1 national university science park and was among the first institutions to establish a university institute for new rural development. Since its founding, it has received over 680 science and technology awards at provincial or ministerial level or above, including 38 National Natural Science Awards, National Invention Awards, and National Science and Technology Progress Awards. It has received Heilongjiang Governor’s Special Awards and Major Scientific and Technological Benefit Awards on 11 occasions, has been named an Advanced Collective in Social Practice by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Education and the Communist Youth League Central Committee on 22 occasions, has received Heilongjiang’s Economic Revitalization Award on 3 occasions and its Contribution to Grain Production Award on 2 occasions, and has been named a Heilongjiang Red Flag Collective for Building a Moderately Prosperous Society.

The university pursues openness in education and is eligible to admit international students receiving Chinese Government Scholarships. It has a Ministry of Education training base for study in Russia and serves as the Chinese secretariat of the Forum of University Presidents from Northeast China, the Russian Far East and Siberia. Since its founding, it has established contacts with 102 universities and research institutions in 22 countries and regions, including Russia, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Canada, Australia and Ireland. It conducts extensive international exchange and cooperation and has initially developed an approach centered on Northeast Asia while drawing on strengths from many sources.

The university covers 5.015 million square meters and has teaching and research equipment valued at RMB 1.16 billion. It was among the first national model resource-saving public institutions. It publishes the Journal of Northeast Agricultural University (Natural Science Edition), Journal of Northeast Agricultural University (English Edition), Journal of Northeast Agricultural University (Social Science Edition), China Dairy Industry, Heilongjiang Textile, Chinese Potato Journal, Feed Review, Soybean Science and Technology, Dairy Products and Humanity, and Agricultural Economics and Management, which are distributed in China and abroad.

The university places strong emphasis on Party building, ideological and political work, and cultural and ethical advancement. It was named a National Advanced Institution for Democratic Management in the Education System in 1999; an Advanced Collective in Agricultural Science and Technology Work in Heilongjiang in 2001; received the National May Day Labor Award in 2003; was named an Advanced Institution for Teacher Ethics Development in the Heilongjiang Education System in 2006; an Advanced Institution for Democratic Management in Public Institutions in Heilongjiang in 2007; a Provincial Safe, Harmonious and Civilized Campus in 2008; and a National Model Workers’ Home in 2011. In 2012, it was named a National Advanced Primary-Level Party Organization in the Striving for Excellence Campaign and received the National May Fourth Red Flag Youth League Committee title. In 2014, it was named a National University with Exemplary Graduate Employment Practices and one of Heilongjiang’s Top Ten Harmonious Campuses. It was named a Heilongjiang Civilized Institution in 2000 and 2013 and a Provincial Model Civilized Institution in 2015. In 2017, it joined the second group of National Demonstration Universities for Deepening Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Reform, and in 2018 it was named a National University with Exemplary Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practices. In 2021, it was named a National Advanced Primary-Level Party Organization. In 2019 and 2022, it was named a Provincial Model Civilized Campus. In 2024, it was named a National Advanced Institution for Open Workplace Affairs and Democratic Management.

Fulfilling a new mission and advancing on a new journey, Northeast Agricultural University in the new era will continue to be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It will thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, comprehensively study and implement the important speeches and instructions delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his visits to Heilongjiang, and conscientiously implement the decisions of the 13th Heilongjiang Provincial Party Congress and its plenary sessions. It will deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthen the Four Consciousnesses, remain firm in the Four Confidences, and uphold the Two Safeguards. With an understanding of the Two Overall Situations and the country’s major concerns, it will focus on national needs, Heilongjiang’s requirements, the university’s capabilities and future directions. It will take fostering virtue and educating people as its fundamental task and strengthening and revitalizing agriculture as its responsibility, uphold its spirit of “Hard Work and Unremitting Self-Improvement,” honor its motto of “Extensive Learning and Earnest Practice, Illuminating Virtue and Caring for the People,” promote its ethos of “Diligence, Truth-Seeking, Dedication and Innovation,” pursue high-quality development with confidence, and strive to write a brilliant chapter in building a world-class university with Chinese characteristics.