# South China Normal University

South China Normal University (SCNU) is a provincial public normal university in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. It is affiliated with the Province of Guangdong, and co-sponsored by the provincial government and the Ministry of Education. The university is part of the Double First-Class Construction and Project 211.
The university is featured distinctively by both teaching and research, consisting of diverse branches of learning such as philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, technology, and management. There is also an elementary school affiliated with this university.

## Motto

For more than 80 years, the school has changed its name and moved several times. Although it has gone through vicissitudes of life, it has never stopped. Generations of Chinese teachers have inherited the fine tradition of "researching advanced academics and nurturing professional talents in the society" of the Teachers' College of Mengqin University, and inherited Southern University's revolutionary spirit of "loyalty, unity, simplicity and humility, hardworking and courage, seeking truth from facts", and practiced it The school motto of arduous struggle, rigorous academic research, truth-seeking and innovation, and being a good example of others" has been passed down from generation to generation, and has jointly created the prosperity and development of the university today.

## History

University Timeline :
| Date | Name |
| August 1933 | Teachers' College of Xiangqin University |
| March 1935 | Education College of Xiangqin University |
| September 1938 | Guangdong Provincial College of Education |
| September 1939 | Guangdong Provincial College of Arts & Science |
| October 1950 | Guangdong College of Arts & Science |
| June 1951 | Teachers' College of Sun Yet-sen University |
| October 1951 | South China Teacher's College |
| October 1970 | Guangdong Teacher's College |
| November 1977 | South China Teacher's College |
| October 1982 | South China Normal University |

## Location and campus

The university has four campuses:
* Main campus (Shipai campus), Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong
* HEMC (Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center) campus, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong
* Nanhai campus, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong
* Shanwei campus, Chengqu district, Shanwei, Guangdong

## Administration

South China Normal University (SCNU) was founded in 1933, before which it was named Guangdong Provincial Teacher's College of Xiangqin University. It became a member of Project 211 in 1996, after which it was constructed and supported by People's Government and Ministry of Education in Guangdong Province in 2015. In 2017, SCNU became a member of the country's Double First-Class Construction. South China Normal University provides a variety of subjects, including philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, technology, agriculture, medical, management and art.
South China Normal University has more than 30 schools and colleges, and offers 84 undergraduate programs, over 200 graduate programs, and over 100 doctoral programs. In 2017, there were 24,894 undergraduates, 7553 postgraduates and 842 doctoral candidates. There are approximately 1000 long-term international students from more than 100 countries every year.
The university has a group of highly qualified experts, professors and teachers. There are now 1979 full-time teachers, among which more than a half are postgraduates' tutors and doctoral supervisors. At present, SCNU has dozens of State Key Laboratory and engineering research centers.
The current president is Dr. Wang Enke.

## Academics
### Schools and Departments
#### Shipai Campus

* School of Education
* School of Politics & Administration
* School of Marxism
* School of History & Culture
* School of Foreign Studies
* School of Special Education
* College of International Culture
* School of Fine Arts
* School of Tourism Management
* School of Information Technology in Education
* School of Mathematical Sciences
* School of Life Sciences
* School of Geography
* School of Computer
* School of Psychology
* College of Continuing Education
* School of Internet Education
* Phoenix International School
* Institute of Optoelectronic Materials and Technology
* College of Biophotonics
* School of Professional Development and Research on Primary and Secondary Education
* Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation
* South China Research Center for Applied Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Studies

#### HEMC Campus

* School of Literature
* School of Economics& Management
* School of Law
* School of Politics and Public Administration
* School of physical education & sports science
* School of Music
* School of Physics and Telecommunications Engineering
* School of Chemistry
* School of Tourism Management
* School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and Engineering
* South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics
* Institute of Quantum Matter
* Academy of Front-line Physics Science (物理前沿科学研究院)$_{Noofficialtranslation.}$
* School of Environment
* Academy of Environment
* Department of Physics (物理学部)$_{Noofficialtranslation.}$
* School of Entrepreneurship
* Institute for Science, Technology and Society
* South China Nuclear Science Computing Center (南方核科学计算中心)$_{Noofficialtranslation.}$
* Academy of Future Technology (未来科技研究院)$_{Noofficialtranslation.}$

#### Nanhai Campus

* School of Urban Culture
* International Business College
* School of Software
* College of Vocational and Technical Education
* College of Nanhai

#### Shanwei Campus

* Xingzhi College
* School of Data Science and Engineering
* Department of General Education, Shanwei Campus
* School of Meterials and New Energy
* College of Vocational and Technical Education
* School of Basic Education
* School of Business
* School of Creative Design

### Teaching and Auxiliary Departments

* Network Center
* Research Resources Center
* Journal of South China Normal University
* Archives of SCNU
* Libraries of SCNU
* Center of Teachers’ Learning and Development
* Center of Education and Development

### Affiliated Departments

* South China Normal University Hospital
* The Affiliated Kindergarten of South China Normal University
* The Affiliated High School of SCNU
* The Affiliated Primary School of SCNU

### South China university libraries

There are the multi-functional libraries on three campuses with more than 3.74 million books.
* Shipai campus:
Built in 1998, Shipai campus library has an area of 29 thousand square meters. It has around 1.83 million books and 1700 reading seats.
* HEMC campus:
Built up in 2004, HEMC campus library has an area of 39 thousand square meters. It has around 1.12 million books and 1800 reading seats.
* Nanhai campus:
Built up in 2002, Nanhai campus library has an area of 14 thousand square meters. It has around 0.61 million books and 1100 reading seats.

## Rankings and reputation

As of 2023, South China Normal University was ranked # 400–500th by the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

## Student life
### Student associations

South China University has more than 120 student associations covering five domains: theory and study, society and practice, academic and science technology, entertainment and sport, interest and hobby. To name a few: Student Association of English, Student Association of Psychology, Student Association of Huayun Han Chinese Clothing, Literature Association of Hai Pengzi, Martial Art Association, Guitar Association, etc.

### Canteens
#### Shipai Campus

* Tao Yuan (陶园)
* Yong Yuan (雍园)
* Qin Yuan (沁园)

#### HEMC Campus

* Han Yuan (翰园)
* Nan Yuan (楠园)

#### Nanhai Campus

* Xi Yuan (熹园) (renamed to Xi Yuan in 2017)