Ocean University of China plots course to stay at forefront of higher education

Ocean University of China, or OUC, is ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary on Oct 25.

The university in Qingdao, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, boasts a complete range of disciplines, of which oceanography and fisheries are a specialty.

It is a key university in the national "211", "985" and "double world-class" projects. Project 211 is an education initiative that has funded more than 100 Chinese universities with the purpose of raising them to international academic standards by the end of the 21st century. The purpose of Project 985 was to create elite universities from those under the 211 Project. Lastly, the double world-class plan is to raise a group of Chinese universities and disciplines to world-class level.

The development goal of OUC is to become a world-class comprehensive ocean university by 2030 and a world-class university with distinctive characteristics by the middle of this century.

The university was founded in 1924 and went through phases as the Private Qingdao University, National Qingdao University, National Shandong University and Shandong University before evolving into Shandong College of Oceanography in 1959. It was renamed Ocean University of Qingdao in 1988 and Ocean University of China in 2002.

With the motto "Ocean embraces all streams; exploring promises reaching far", OUC has embarked on a path of characteristic development, scientific progress, nurturing people to advance innovation and contribute to the country through ocean-related endeavors.

Over its long history, the university has attracted a large number of renowned scholars and educators, such as masters of literature and history Yang Zhensheng, Zhao Taimou and Liang Shiqiu, and great scientists Tang Tenghan and Fu Ying.

OUC has always been at the forefront of higher education in China. It was designated as one of the 13 key comprehensive universities in the country in 1960 and became capable of awarding doctoral and master's degrees in 1981.

Currently, the university has four campuses. The Laoshan, Yushan and Fushan campuses together cover more than 160 hectares. The first phase of the fourth campus on Qingdao's west coast came into use in 2022 and once completed will occupy about 187 hectares.

OUC consists of one faculty, 20 colleges and one teaching center for fundamental courses. It has more than 36,900 students, including more than 17,890 undergraduates; 14,950-plus master's students; more than 3,800 doctoral students and 320 foreign students. The university has more than 4,100 faculty members, including 16 academicians, 89 nationally leading talents and 610 other talents of importance.

It has created a comprehensive marine discipline system with Chinese characteristics. It integrates marine science and technology; life science and technology; engineering technology; humanities and social sciences; as well basic sciences, which can support each other.

With the aim of cultivating excellent innovative professionals — with a sense of social responsibility; international vision and awareness of cooperation and competition; scientific spirit and humanism; innovative consciousness and practice abilities — OUC has trained more than 360,000 outstanding graduates who are now in different industries across the world.

With a mission to cultivate talents for the nation's marine industry, the university has seen 16 of its graduates elected as academicians in the field of oceanography. More than half of the 75 scientists who participated in China's first Antarctic expedition were graduates of the university.

OUC prides itself on achieving high levels of scientific and technological self-reliance, and focuses on building nationally strategic scientific and technological capabilities in the marine field. It has led preparation for the Laoshan Laboratory, which was established in 2022, and formed a system of integrated development between a university and a national laboratory.

It has more than 40 important scientific research centers and platforms, involving key national laboratories and national engineering technology research centers.

OUC boasts three scientific research internship vessels, including the "Dongfanghong 3", a large silent 5,000-metric-ton ship. The university has also won a first-prize and three second-prizes in China's State Technological Invention Award; two second-prizes in the State Natural Science Award and 12 second-prizes in the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award; received the highest science and technology award in Shandong province four times; and the highest science and technology award in Qingdao six times.

The university upholds an open approach to education and is a key driver of global cooperation and exchange in marine science and education.

It has established partnerships with more than 300 scientific and educational institutions in more than 50 countries and regions; collaborated with the University of Adelaide in Australia to establish Haide College; and cooperated with high-level institutions in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom to launch educational projects and establish joint research centers.

OUC has also initiated the establishment of the International Alliance of Marine-related Institutions and the China-Norway Marine University Consortium Alliance.

Ocean University of China, or OUC, is ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary on Oct 25. [Photo by Han Luying/For China Daily]