Fudan University
Yang Yuliang
Summary
Fudan University is a research-intensive university located in Shanghai, China. It was founded in 1905 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China, with a long history of academic excellence. The university is named after the word "fudan," which means "heavenly light shines day after day" in ancient Chinese.
Fudan University is known for its strong academic programs in a wide range of fields, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, and management. The university is home to more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students, including over 3,500 international students from more than 120 countries.
Fudan University has a strong reputation for research, with a number of research institutes and centers dedicated to cutting-edge research in various fields. The university has also established partnerships with a number of leading universities and research institutions around the world, including partnerships with universities in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
In addition to its academic programs, Fudan University also offers a range of extracurricular activities and programs to help students develop their skills and interests outside the classroom. These include student clubs and organizations, cultural events, and community service programs.
Overall, Fudan University is a highly respected institution with a strong reputation for academic excellence and research. Its commitment to global engagement and innovation has helped it become one of the leading universities in China and the world.
History
Fudan University, located in Shanghai, China, has a rich history that dates back over a century. Here is a comprehensive overview of the university's history.
In 1902, Ma Xiangbo, a Chinese Jesuit priest, scholar, and educator, spent all his fortune and established Zhendan Academy (later Aurora University) in the empty buildings of Xujiahui Catholic Observatory. In 1905, the imperialist forces in the Xujiahui Catholic Church plotted to seize the leadership of the academy, forcing Ma to leave for recuperation. In order to protest against the interference of the church, about 130 students led by Yu Youren and Shao Lizi left the academy, giving their support to Ma for rebuilding the institution in Wusong. On September 14th the same year, or August 16th based on the lunar calendar, Fudan Public School, the first higher education institution run by Chinese people, opened at the government office of Wusong area, Shanghai.
During the Revolution of 1911—the revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China—Fudan Public School was suspended, and the school buildings were used as the headquarters of the Korean Liberation Army, an important ally fighting alongside China in the war. After the establishment of the Republic of China, Yu Youren, appointed as the deputy head of transportation, joined a group of 41 alumni and wrote to the interim central government in the national capital of Nanjing, asking for the resumption of the school. With the full support of Sun Yat-sen, Fudan Public School became the only university formally approved by the interim government, which also granted 10,000 silver dollars to the school to help its restoration. Later, from 1912 to 1922, Fudan Public School returned to Xujiahui and settled in the Shrine of Li Hongzhang.
In 1918, Li Denghui, the then-president of Private Fudan University, bought over 70 mu (approx. 4.67 hectares) of land in Jiangwan with 150,000 silver dollars he raised during his lobby trip to Southeastern Asian countries. In the winter of 1920, Fudan finally had its own classrooms and facilities in Jiangwan, which has remained a site of the university up to this day. In 1929, Fudan set up four faculties including Arts, Sciences, Law, and Business under the University Organization Law issued by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China. Thanks to an improved academic structure, the development of Private Fudan University now entered a golden era.
After the outbreak of the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, teachers and students were forced to migrate to Beibei area in Chongqing and build by the Jialing river bank a wartime campus composed of over 20 academic departments across the five faculties: Arts, Sciences, Law, Business, and Agriculture. A small number of teachers and students stayed back in Shanghai and formed the Shanghai Tutoring Department, adhering to the Three Don’ts Principle, namely, don’t report to, accept funding or be interfered by enemies, to maintain their national dignity. In 1942, Fudan University was nationalized, and resources available for running the university were greatly improved. Prominent teachers gathered here and offered their wisdom to the university, making Xiaba where Fudan was located an intellectual-brimmed town.
In 1956, Fudan University merged with Shanghai Medical University, which expanded its focus on medicine and health sciences. During the Cultural Revolution, like all universities in China, Fudan was closed down and its faculty and students were sent to the countryside for "re-education." It was not until 1978, after the end of the Cultural Revolution, that Fudan University was reopened.
Since then, Fudan University has experienced a period of rapid growth and expansion. In 1985, the university was designated as one of the first 16 national key universities in China. In the following years, Fudan University established partnerships with a number of prestigious universities around the world, including Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of Tokyo.
In the 1990s, Fudan University launched a major initiative to improve its research capabilities and promote innovation. The university established several research institutes, including the Institute of Biomedical Sciences and the Institute of Brain Science. In 2000, Fudan University launched the Fudan-MIT International MBA program in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Today, Fudan University is one of the top universities in China and is highly regarded internationally. It has 28 schools and departments, including a medical school, a law school, a business school, and a journalism school. The university has a strong research focus and is home to several research institutes and centres, covering areas such as neuroscience, environmental science, and information technology. Fudan University also has a large and diverse student body, with over 35,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all over China and around the world.
Courses
Fudan University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, management, and law. The university aims to provide its students with high-quality education and foster their creativity, critical thinking, and leadership skills.
Undergraduate Programs:
Fudan University offers 70 undergraduate programs, covering a wide range of subjects, including literature, history, philosophy, economics, management, law, science, engineering, medicine, and arts. The undergraduate programs usually last for four years, except for clinical medicine, which lasts for five years.
Graduate Programs:
Fudan University offers a variety of graduate programs, including master's and doctoral degrees in different fields of study. The university has 36 schools and departments that offer graduate programs, and it also has several research institutes and centers that focus on specific areas of study.
The graduate programs cover a wide range of subjects, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, management, and law. The duration of the graduate programs varies depending on the field of study and the degree level. Generally, master's programs last for two to three years, while doctoral programs last for three to five years.
International Programs:
Fudan University also offers a range of international programs for students who wish to study abroad or pursue a degree program in English. The university has several joint degree programs with renowned universities worldwide and also offers exchange programs with universities in different countries.
The international programs cover a variety of subjects, including economics, finance, management, Chinese studies, international relations, and science. The duration of the international programs varies depending on the program and the degree level.
Fudan University provides a comprehensive education system with a variety of programs that cater to the needs of students from different backgrounds and interests. The university strives to provide its students with a world-class education and equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their future careers.
Global MBA rankings
Fudan University’s MBA program, the Fudan-MIT International MBA (IMBA), has consistently ranked highly in global MBA rankings. The program is a joint venture between Fudan University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which was launched in 1996.
According to the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2022, the Fudan-MIT IMBA program is ranked #40 in the world and #1 in China. The program has been included in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings for 18 consecutive years since 2005 and has been ranked among the top 50 MBA programs for 14 consecutive years.
The Fudan-MIT IMBA program is also highly ranked by other major international publications. For example, the program was ranked #28 in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2022, #31 in the Economist’s Which MBA? Rankings 2021, and #38 in the Bloomberg Businessweek’s Best International Business Schools 2021.
The Fudan-MIT IMBA program is known for its rigorous curriculum, international faculty, diverse student body, and strong industry connections. The program offers a 2-year, full-time MBA program with courses taught in English. The program also includes a mandatory exchange program with MIT Sloan School of Management in the United States, where students have the opportunity to study at MIT for a semester.
Job integration rate
Fudan University has an excellent job integration rate for its graduates. According to a survey conducted by the university, over 90% of graduates from undergraduate programs were able to find employment within six months after graduation, while over 95% of postgraduates found employment during the same period.
Fudan University's Career Development Center provides a wide range of services to help students prepare for their careers, including career counseling, job fairs, workshops, and internships. The center also works closely with employers to identify job opportunities for Fudan students and to develop recruitment strategies.
Fudan University has strong relationships with many top employers in various industries, including finance, technology, consulting, and government. Some of the major employers of Fudan graduates include Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, Huawei, McKinsey, and the Chinese government.
In addition to the strong job integration rate for its graduates, Fudan University has a high reputation for producing successful entrepreneurs. Many Fudan alumni have gone on to start their own businesses and have become successful entrepreneurs in China and around the world. The university offers various entrepreneurship programs, including the Fudan MBA Entrepreneurship Program, which helps students develop their business ideas and launch their startups.
General information
https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/fudan-university
https://www.shanghairanking.com/institution/fudan-university
https://studyinchinas.com/university/fudan-university/
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/fudan-university
https://www.chinaeducenter.com/en/university/sfu.php
https://foxfellowship.yale.edu/fudan-university-china
https://www.researchgate.net/institution/Fudan_University2
https://www.masterstudies.com/universities/China/FDSM/
https://edurank.org/uni/fudan-university/
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/fudan-university-500824
Yang Yuliang