Listen to this articleTianjin University（天津大学：Tiānjīn Dàxué）, established in 1895 with the name of “Peiyang University”（北洋大学：Běiyánɡ Dàxué）, is the first educational institution of higher learning in China. Over a hundred years, more than 150,000 students have graduated from Tianjin University and made great contributions in every way of life. At present, Tianjin University has grown into a National Key University directly under the administration of the Ministry of Education of China. With the tradition of diligence and modesty, Tianjin University is prepared to meet challenges in the 21st century.
Tianjin University was the first to fully adopt western university system in China. Upon its beginning, it ran according to American model, where western learning was mainly taught. Moreover, as to the school system, it was stipulated, as soon as the university was established, that the undergraduate program is the first class and prior the second and that either of them last four years.
For over a century, Tianjin University had a large number of excellent graduates, who were the first generation brought up with both the Chinese and western cultures, and among whom were the founders of various fields in modern China, such as some in the first group of students officially sent to study overseas, the first aviation graduates, diplomats, well-known businessmen in transportation, mining and metallurgy, bankers, scientists, educators and social activists, too many to mention all of them. The alumni started many “first’s”, such as Wang Chonghui, the first Chinese judge to the International Court, Jin Wensi, the first person to start negotiation with GATT (WTO), Liu Ruiheng, the founder of the Chinese public health system, Ma Yinchu, the first Ph.D in economics, and Wang Zhengting, the first Chinese member in the International Olympic Committee. The alumni did great contributions in all walks of life and helped move China to a modernized society from an old feudal one.
