About Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Technology |
Named in memoriam after the famed Chinese patriot Liao, Zhongkai, the University occupies nearly 100 acres on the south bank of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River in Guangzhou, China--about two hours north of Hong Kong by train. The school is best known for its sub-tropical gardening research and provides training in this discipline at the undergraduate level along with a full compliment of academic majors.
The school was first established as Zhongkai Industry and Agriculture Technology Academy in 1927 and was subsequently named Zhongkai Industry and Agriculture School. The renown feminist movement leader and revolutionary figure He Xiangning was president of Zhongkai for fifteen years and attended to the principle she formulated that the school should attend to practical skills to help farmers and industrial workers. Following the founding of the People's Republic of China the school changed its name to Guandong Zhongkai Agricultural School and soon became a key polytechnic school whose Engineering Academy boasts many agricultural and technical notables and State and Provincial leaders.
The school was evaluated and sanctioned by the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal Husbandry and Education as a University in 1984. It now employs some 560 staff members of which 305 are full-time faculty preparing students in twenty-six majors through sixteen teaching departments: Art and Art Design, Social Science, Physical Education, Continuing Education, Foreign Languages, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Agriculture, Biosciences, Economics and Management, Computer Science and Electronics, Information, Gardening, Landscaping, Resources and Environment. The school has a Cultural and Foreign Exchange Training Center and nine specific scientific research institutes in Education, Culture, Industrial Economy, Floriculture, Biotechnology, and more. The Universities institutes are currently involved in over one hundred research programs. Thirty of these projects have already received National, Provincial, and Departmental Awards. The school also is unique in that it serves as a regional center for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) based at Cambridge University in England.
Zhongkai has more than 10,000 students, 2117 of them adult learners, and 24 graduate students. The student population is expected to grow to 26,000 in the next five years and to manage its growth a new facility is under construction on 1,000 acres granted by the Provincial Development and planning committee.
The present school is a spacious, environmentally attractive campus with a modern sports stadium, a 451.000 volume library, an Internet center, a science hall and more amenities expected of a facility of this size. The campus has won Provincial awards for its environment while maintaining status as a cradle of advanced training in Agriculture, Information and Engineering Technology, and Management.
When the College won University status in 1984 Wang Zheng, then China's National Vice Chairman, visited and dedicated the new school by inscribing his name, in a traditional ceremony, on the gates of the school. Since that time leaders of the State and Central Committee have watched over the development of the University. Ye Jianying, Deng Xiaopin, Yang Shangkun, and Wang Zhen have inscribed their names on the memorial hall, the statue and monuments of founder Liao Zhongkai and the statue of He Xiangning. Liao Chengzhi, Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Huo Ying Dong and Ma Wanqi, Vice Chairs of the Political Consultant's Conference have made numerous visits and conducted inspections of Zhongkai.
In 1987 the school's board of trustees was established. In keeping with tradition the school has invited State dignitaries to assume positions of Chairman and Vice Chair of the Board. Such luminaries have included the Liao Hui, Vice Chair of the National Political Consultant's Council (an advisory group responsible for policy recommendations to the government) and director of the Hong Kong and Macau office's of the State Council; He Houha, the chief executive of Macau's Special Administrative Region; Chen Yaobang, former Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries; Zeng Xiazi, a member of the standing committee of the National People's Congress; Liu Yuxin, a committee member of the National Political Consultant's Conference and leaders from the Provincial Party Committee, Government, People's Conference and Consultant's Conference.
The school's endowments, providing scholarships and building monies, continues to receive wide support. To date many of Zhongkai University's awards and facilities have been funded by millions of Yuan generously given by benefactors from Hong Kong and Macau. As a tribute to Zhongkai and its history, a relative of Liao Zhongkai, Chen Xiangmei is a Consultant on the Board of Trustees while Chairman of the American International Cooperation Committee. Her affection for the school and the student body is evidenced by frequent visits to the school and her exchanges with students and faculty.
Zhongkai University Continues to grow in stature and community recognition. In recent years, sixty-five teachers at Zhongkai have been recognized for excellence with State, Provincial, Regional and Departmental awards. Zhongkai has graduated more than 10,000 students in the past ten years adhering to principles of cooperation, practical capability, and foundational learning. The University intends to carry on the traditions that have won it such high societal praise.
