Wuhan Sports University

Originally named Central-South Institute of Physical Education, Wuhan Sports University was one of the first independently established full-time regular sports higher education institutions after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It was founded in Nanchang, Jiangxi, in 1953, moved to Wuhan, Hubei, in 1955 and was renamed Wuhan Institute of Physical Education in 1956. Formerly directly under the General Administration of Sport, it became jointly supported by the administration and the People’s Government of Hubei Province in 2001. It covers 1820 mu and has more than 15000 undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and international students. It has one directly affiliated and one other affiliated Grade III Class A hospital. Upholding its motto, “Fairness, Courage, Sincerity and Perseverance; Learning, Thinking, Discernment and Action,” it follows a philosophy integrating sport, science and technology, and humanities education, and combining moral, cultural and professional qualities. Over more than 70 years, it has educated over 160000 outstanding professionals.

Discipline and program development has achieved notable results, with particular strength in the first-level discipline of sports science. Its 28 undergraduate programs recruit nationally, including 13 national or provincial first-class programs, spanning 7 categories: education, literature, management, science, engineering, the arts and medicine. It has 1 first-level doctoral authorization in sports science and 1 professional doctoral authorization in sport; 6 first-level master’s disciplines, sports science, psychology, journalism and communication, art studies, special medicine and business administration; and 5 professional master’s categories, sport, applied psychology, journalism and communication, dance, and drama and film. It has a postdoctoral research station in sports science.

Research capabilities are strong, with 12 provincial or ministerial research platforms. Over the past 5 years, it has undertaken 57 national research projects and 294 provincial or ministerial projects. It was the first sports institution approved for a National Natural Science Foundation major research instrument development project. It has undertaken 12 major, key and other National Social Science Fund projects and received over 30 national, provincial or ministerial research awards. It has 1 national sports science popularization base and 1 General Administration of Sport high-level sports think tank. The Journal of Wuhan Institute of Physical Education receives National Social Science Fund support, has been selected for the Ministry of Education’s prestigious journal column initiative and is included in four major core journal groups. The Journal of Physical Education is an outstanding Hubei journal. Its English-language Advanced Exercise and Health Science was launched in March 2024 and has been indexed by EBSCO, CAS, DOAJ and other databases.

Its faculty is strong, with 60% of teachers and coaches holding senior professional titles. National talents provide leading expertise, provincial and ministerial talents form a high-level concentration, and young and middle-aged faculty demonstrate outstanding capabilities.

Competitive sport is a distinctive strength. It has won 226 gold medals in the world’s three major competitions, including 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze at the Paris Olympics; 112 Asian Games gold medals, including 27 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games; and 127 National Games gold medals, including 22 gold, 15 silver and 19 bronze at the Shaanxi National Games. The General Administration of Sport has granted it a Contribution to Sport Award and approved it as a National Key High-Level Reserve Sports Talent Base.

The university pursues openness and has established China Triathlon College, China Water Sports College, China Boxing College, China Bodybuilding and Fitness College, China Dragon and Lion Dance College, the Asian Gymnastics Training Center and an International Gymnastics Academy recognized by the International Gymnastics Federation.

Looking ahead, it will strive to build a leading Chinese and world-class university of sport focused on applied research!