Introduction

Beihang University (formerly Beijing Institute of Aeronautics) or BUAA for short, was founded on October 25, 1952 out of the merger of the aeronautical departments of Tsinghua University, Beiyang University, Amoy (Xiamen) University, Sichuan University, Yunnan University, Northwest Institute of Technology, College of Engineering, North China University, and Southwest Aeronautical Institute. Situated in the capital in the center of Zhongguancun Science Park, next to China' s National Olympic Center, with an area of over 100 hectares, BUAA is China' s first university of aeronautical and astronautical engineering.

Since its founding, Beihang University has been one of the key universities given priority for development. In the new century and millennium, BUAA was officially listed in China's Action Plan for the Revitalization of Education in the 21st Century. Over the past 50years BUAA has provided about 80000 professionals of high caliber in various disciplines for the country. At present, the university comprises 17 schools and 6 departments, covering such diverse fields as science, technology, liberal arts, law, economy, management, philosophy, foreign languages and education. Total faculty and staff number more than 3300, including 10 academicians of either the Chinese Academy of Sciences or the Chinese Academy of Engineering Sciences, over 1400 full or associate professors, and 290 supervisors of doctorate programs. BUAA has a total enrolment of over 26,000, including more than 1300 doctorate candidates, over 5000 master candidates, more than 14,000 in 4 or 2 year undergraduate programs, and about 300 overseas students. It has 42 research institutes or interdisciplinary research centers, 11 key disciplines of the national level, and 89 laboratories (including 4 national key laboratories, 5 national specialized laboratories, and 12 provincial or ministerial-level key laboratories.) In recent years BUAA has ranked among the foremost in China in terms of funding for scientific research. The university is equipped with all ancillary facilities. The library, with an area of over 24,000 m2, has a collection of over 1.2 million books. BUAA's sports facilities include a modern gymnasium and a sports ground with sophisticated equipment. BUAA has become one of the China' s important bases for scientific and technological innovation and quality education of high-level personnel.

The celebration of Beihang University's 50 eventful years signifies an even more promising future. BUAA has evolved into an open, multi-disciplined, research-oriented university of engineering science and technology with an emphasis on aeronautical and astronautical engineering. At present the university is being developed with the joint efforts of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, the Ministry of Education, the Municipal Government of Beijing, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering Sciences. Conscious of its role in invigorating China through science and education and pursuing its traditional style of "hard work, simple living, diligent learning, all-round development and courageous innovation, Beihang University is deepening the reform in education and striving to realize its goal of becoming a "top-rate university in China, well-known throughout the world."

The meeting announcing the founding of the Beijing Institute of Aeronautics (BIA) was held in the auditorium of Beijing Institute of Technology (formerly Zhongfa University ) on October 25, 1952. Faculty and students from the aeronautical departments in eight universities joined to lay the foundations for the new institute, whose chosen site was in Beiyanzhuang Village , Haidian District, in the western suburb of Beijing . Construction started on June 1 and over 60,000m2 of buildings were completed within 6 months. By October some of the faculty and students were able to start normal work and study. In the beginning there were only two departments with 4 majors: aeroplane design and aeroplane technology in the department of aeorplane engineering, and engine design, engine technology in the department of aeroplane engine engineering. In May 1988 the Institute changed to its present name of Beihang University.

Beihang University was among the nation's first 16 key universities back in the 1950's, and among the top 15 for priority development during China' s 7 th five-year-plan period (1986-1990). During the 8 th five-year-plan it was listed among the top 14 for priority development, and at the start of the 9 th 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.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of several generations of people Beihang University 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 2ndlevel disciplines and 12 post-doctorate stations. In 10 disciplines of the 1st level BUAA is authorized to confer doctor and master degrees. BUAA, as a center of both higher education and scientific research, has become one of the important bases for quality personnel education and scientific research in China.

(Source: Beihang University)