Beihang University


Beihang University, previously known as Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
is a major public
research university located in Beijing, China, emphasizing engineering, technology, and the hard sciences.
Beihang University is designated as an eminent key university by China's Ministry of Education Class A. It was one of China's key universities subsidized by "Project 985" funding and by " Project 211" funding. Beihang was founded on October 25, 1952, with an area
of over 100 hectares.
Together with Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Beijing Institute of Technology, it is widely considered to be one of the top four engineering research universities in Beijing, with an emphasis on aeronautical and astronautical engineering, but also covering diverse fields in the natural sciences, high technology, economics, management, the liberal arts, law, philosophy, foreign languages, and education.

History

The early years

Beihang was formed in 1952 from a merger of the aeronautical departments of Tsinghua University, Peiyang University, Xiamen University, Sichuan University, Yunnan University, Northwestern Engineering College, North China University, and Southwest Aeronautical Institute.
The meeting announcing the founding of the Beijing Institute of Aeronautics was held in the auditorium of Beijing Institute of Technology on October 25, 1952. In the early days of the university, most of the faculty and students lived on campuses of Tsinghua University and Beijing Institute of Technology before they moved on to their own new campus, which was chosen in May, 1953 and located at the BaiYanZhuang Village, Haidian District, in the western suburb of Beijing. Construction of campus buildings started on June 1, 1953. More than 60,000m2 of buildings were completed within six months. By October 1953, all students and some of the faculty had moved to the new campus and started their daily work and study. Initially, there were two departments with 4 majors: Aeroplane Design and Aeroplane Technology in the Department of Aeroplane Engineering, and Engine Design and Engine Technology in the Department of Aeroplane Engine Engineering.
BUAA was among China's first 16 key universities in the 1950s, and was among the top 15 for priority development during China's 7th Five-Year Plan period. During the 8th Five-Year plan it was listed among the top 14 for priority development, and at the start of the 9th Five-Year Plan BUAA was among the first batch of 15 universities in project 211 for Higher Education.

Name change

In 1952, this university was named the "Beijing Institute of Aeronautics". In May 1988, it was named the "Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics", with an abbreviation "BUAA". In 2002, the university board changed the English name of the university to "Beihang University", but the abbreviation "BUAA" is retained.

Currently

The university has 59 undergraduate programs, 38 master's degree authorization first-level disciplines programs, 21 doctor degree authorization first-level disciplines, and 17 postdoc stations. At present, the University has 27 schools covering 10 major disciplines. The total number of faculty and staff is 3,759, including 20 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or Chinese Academy of Engineering, and 1,668 full or associate professors. BUAA is the home of 27,811 undergrad and graduate students, and about 668 international students It has 89 laboratories including, one National Lab and seven State Key Laboratories. The university is equipped with all ancillary facilities. Its library, with an area of over 24,000 m2, has a collection of over 1.2 million.
In 2005, the French leading Grande École of engineering, École Centrale, associated with BUAA to create a top level engineering graduate program called École Centrale de Pékin. This program's intake consisted of the very best Chinese students graduating the National College Entrance Examination. In 2018, the French Civil Aviation University has signed a partnership agreement with the university in order to create a civil aviation university in Hangzhou.
BUAA also has sports facilities including modern gymnasiums and sports grounds.

Anniversary and homecoming

October 25 is the anniversary, and the following weekend is the homecoming weekend.
The official school colors are blue and white, which symbolize the sky and clouds, respectively.

Education and teaching

Ranking

Beihang University is among China's top-10 engineering universities. It is subsidized by the prestigious Project-211 funding and Project-985 funding. Together with Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Beijing Institute of Technology, it is widely considered to be one of the top four engineering research universities in Beijing, with an emphasis on aeronautical and astronautical engineering, but also covering diverse fields in the natural sciences, high technology, economics, management, the liberal arts, law, philosophy, foreign languages, and education.
Beihang has been officially listed in China's Action Plan for the Revitalization of Education in the 21st Century. Beihang has had more than 40 projects that were ranked first in China.
BUAA has 42 research institutes or interdisciplinary research centers, 11 key disciplines of the national level, and 89 laboratories. In recent years, Beihang ranks among China's top universities by research funding. Beihang is also among China's top research universities to develop military technology. It is administered by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The library, with an area of over 24,000 m2, has a collection of over 1.2 million books. BUAA's sports facilities include an Olympic modern gymnasium and a sports ground.

International academic exchange

BUAA has established cooperation with 152 universities and research institutions from 40 countries, including Canada, UK, France, Germany, Russia, the United States, and Sri Lanka. 122 scholars have been invited as honorary professors to Beihang University. Every year, an average of about 1000 foreign experts and scholars come to BUAA to give lectures, to visit, and to take part in international conferences, and discussions for scientific cooperation. Every year over 600 BUAA faculties go abroad to give lectures, participate in academic conferences and conduct cooperative scientific research.
Since 2005, Beihang University and Groupe des Écoles Centrales have cooperated under the support of the governments of China and France to jointly establish the Sino-French Engineer School in Beijing.
Since the 1990s, Beihang University has been one of the few universities in China that use English as the primary medium of instruction for all its international master and doctoral programs. It also offers many bachelor's degree programs in English.
Since 1993, more than 9,000 students from over 80 countries have enrolled at Beihang University.

Undergraduate

Beihang's undergraduate education is focused on training creative specialized graduates with solid basic knowledge and ensuring that they can study and work independently in the science field with necessary skills. Centering on this aim, BUAA has a credit-based education plan, which is a flexible way for students to plan their college life.

Postgraduate

BUAA is among China's very first academic institutes with a graduate school. It is also one of the universities which have the authority to internally select its academic staff to be a supervisor of doctorate students for doctoral programs.

Teaching

BUAA was among the nation's first 16 key universities back in the 1950s, and among the top 15 for priority development during China's 7th five-year plan period. During the 8th five-year plan it was listed among the top 14 for priority development, and at the start of the 9th five-year plan BUAA was among the first batch of 15 universities in "Project 211 for Higher Education." As it entered the new century and millennium, the university was again listed in China's Action Plan for the Revitalization of Education in the 21st Century. BUAA has grown into an open, multi-disciplined, research-oriented university of engineering science and technology with an emphasis on aeronautical and astronautical engineering. The university now has 40 undergraduate majors, 65 master programs, and 36 second-level doctorate programs in 2nd level disciplines and 12 post-doctorate stations. In 10 disciplines of the 1st level BUAA is authorized to confer doctor and master's degrees.

Affiliated Schools

Beihang University contains within itself an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. These schools are typically exclusive for children of the university staff. However, they are available to public if there are extra spots.

Research

BUAA is home to some of China's national key research laboratories. Among them, the National Laboratory of Software Development Environment, National Computational Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, National Laboratory of Aero-engine and Air Heat, and National Laboratory of Aeronautics and Astronautics represent BUAA's facilities.
Since its foundation, the university has had more than 40 projects that were ranked first in the country and has received more than 900 awards for achievements, which have made BUAA one of the top-ranked universities in the field of high tech. In addition, BUAA has filled scientific and technological gaps nationwide by making and launching spacecraft of different models, such as Beijing -1, the first light aircraft in China; Beijing -2, the first sounding rocket in Asia; Beijing -5, the first unmanned aircraft in China; the BEE series; and coaxial rotors helicopter. BUAA has also invented a flight simulator in automation, a silicon compiler in computer science, a Phase Change Disk in material and information storage, a robot of multi-degree freedom in artificial intelligence and assisted in the successful launch of the Shenzhou spacecraft.
Now the university has established six major state labs, namely the Lab of Aero Engine Gasdynamics and Thermodynamics, the State Lab of Computational Fluid Dynamics, the Lab of Software Development Environment and the National Base of Mechanics, and 12 major labs at provincial levels. For years, the funding for scientific research at BUAA has been increasing at an annual rate of over 20%, which ranks among the best in all the universities in China in terms of its achievements, funding and academic standing.

SRTP

In 2005, BUAA initiated the Student Research Training Program to involve undergraduates in research through credit incentives. All granted projects are funded by the Student Academic Office. Excellent project holders are given extra credits for their achievements. Students often publish papers and file patent applications during the training program.

Student life

Feng Ru Cup

The Feng Ru Cup, named after China's first aircraft designer and aviator Feng Ru, is an annual competition of student scientific innovation works in BUAA. It is like the senior project which is common in the United States. This competition attracts thousands of students each year.

Student societies

There are various of student societies and activities to join, from sport clubs to scientific interest groups. Student scientific and engineering innovation groups may receive funds from different entities, e.g. departments, schools and companies.

Notable alumni