A Low-Key but Awesome University

China Newsweek July 4



A Low-Key but Awesome University

China Newsweek July 4

The University of Science and Technology of China （USTC） seems too modest for a productive higher-learning institution.

Known as the MIT of China， it has nurtured a bunch of elites in science and technology （S&T）， education， business and other fields. Many professors in world-renowned universities such as Harvard received their education at USTC， despite it being not as famous as Peking University or Tsinghua University.

USTC was established in 1958 to cultivate competent S&T personnel for China. It has remained an elite university up to the present day. From student admissions to faculty selection and hiring，USTC prioritizes its overall performance rather than following the trend of expanding enrollment.

Giving importance to basic courses，as one of USTC's traditions， lays a solid academic foundation for students and greatly influences the ways they perceive and handle things. Designing special classes for gifted young people is also part of the school's educationsystem. Through all these efforts， USTC enables its students to shoulder responsibility for China's economic and social development， pass on the fne cultural and moral heritage， and lead along the path of S&T progress.

President Xi Jinping expressed his high expectations for USTC during his visit to Anhui Province in April， “Be open to innovation， be bold to excellence.”He also encouraged the institution to make increasing contributions to China's modernization， as well as making great achievements in education and innovation.