Harbin Engineering University (HEU)

Harbin Engineering University is defining her distinctive position in the nation's development strategy by specializing in shipping industry, ocean exploration and nuclear application. By also leading a series of reforms in teaching, scientific research and informa-tion management systems, Harbin Engineering University is expanding her role as China's premier comprehensive international university now and into the 21st century.

Harbin Engineering University (HEU) sits at the scenic Songhua River in the ice city of Harbin in North China. Subordinate to the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, HEU is a national key university of glorious history and fine traditions. It is among the first batch of "211 Project" universities that are entitled to enjoy first priority from the state in construction and development and also one of the universities that have Graduate School. Moreover, HEU is an important base for talent cultivation and scientific research in the fields of ship industry, ocean exploration and nuclear application.

The predecessor of HEU is PLA Military Engineering Institute established in 1953 (abbr. HME). In 1970, in the former location, Harbin Ship Engineering Institute was founded by the entire crew of naval engineering department and some other cadre teachers of every other department, and it was renamed Harbin Engineering University in 1994. HEU was selected as a national key university by the State Council in 1978, authorized by the State Council to award master and doctoral degrees in the first batch in 1982, selected as one of the first few "211 Project" universities to receive preferential support from the state in 1996, and authorized by the Ministry of Education to have Graduate School in 2002. Currently, HEU is subordinate to the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and being constructed with priority by the Commission together with Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government.

In the course of over half a century, HEU has formed a well-structured discipline system that is characterized by a reasonable coordinated development of major disciplines in the fields of ship industry, ocean exploration and nuclear application together with related disciplines of other fields. Now there are 50 specialties for undergraduates (3 haven't enrolled students yet), 93 specialties for Master candidates, 25 specialties for Doctoral candidates, 9 post-doctoral mobile stations, and 1 post-doctoral research station. The specialties cover 7 discipline groups and 37 first-class disciplines. There are 3 national key disciplines - underwater acoustic engineering, design and manufacture of ships and marine structures, navigation, guidance and control; 7 national defense key disciplines - nuclear science and engineering, marine engine engineering, solid mechanics, etc.; 24 provincial and ministerial key disciplines - marine hydrodynamics, special auxiliary device system, signal and information Processing, etc.. In addition, naval architecture and ocean engineering, thermal energy and power engineering, nuclear engineering and nuclear technology have been entitled national defense key specialties, and automation as well as 7 other specialties Heilongjiang provincial key specialties.