Higher education in China

Abstract

The National Metropolitan University, which was established in 1898, was the beginning of the modern university in China. According to the Revised School Regulations of 1903, the university consisted of a graduate school, eight colleges, one college preparatory department, and one senior high school. In 1902 there were many provincial universities, such as Hung Tao University in Shensi, University of Shansi in Shansi, University of Honan in Honan, Liang Hu University in Hupeh, University of Hunan in Hunan, University of Kuangtung in Kuangtung, Kiangsu College in Kiangsu, and University of Chekiang in Chekiang, which were all reorganized from old provincial academies. After the Revised School Regulations were announced, all of the universities, except the Metropolitan University and University of Shansi, were reformed into provincial senior high schools. In 1903 Tientsin School of West Learning was reorganized into the National Peiyang University. In the last fifteen years of the Tsing Dynasty there were three universities and twenty-four junior colleges and high schools. From 1912 to 1917, after the Shih-hai revolution, besides the three universities mentioned above, there were four private colleges or universities-China University, Chao-yang University, Tatung College, and Futan College. In the period of ten years, from 1918 to 1927, the number of universities or colleges publicly controlled was thirty-four, as the limitations of the announcement of the New System of Schools and they arose rapidly. As to those controlled privately, the number also increased to eighteen, all recognized by the Ministry of Education. There were fifteen other privately controlled colleges which were not recognized as institutions of higher education.