Shanghai University of Sport (SUS), the very first university of its kind in New China, was established in November 1952. Over the past 50 years, SUS has always been devoted to the teaching of the science of physical culture and sports. With “developing the students both physically and mentally with a balanced education of liberal arts and science, and with the mutual enhancement of morality and techniques in order to cultivate all-round talents for the society” as its educational principle, the University has carried forward its fine teaching traditions and has created a favorable cultural and academic atmosphere. With “developing both physically and mentally; being athletic, competitive and persevering” as its motto, SUS is dedicated to nurturing a teaching and learning spirit characterized by “being careful and precise, honest and sincere; living up to the name of a teacher and realizing that teaching benefits teachers and students alike”.
SUS comprises schools and departments that offer bachelor and postgraduate programs, programs for adults and programs for overseas students, as well as one affiliated competitive sport school. There are 8 teaching schools and departments: School of Physical Education and Sports Coaching, Wushu School (School of Martial Arts), School of Sports and Humanities, School of Kinesiology, School of Economics and Management, the Leisure and Recreation Department, School of International Cultural Exchange, and School of Continuing Education. As one of the best sport universities in China, SUS currently offers 14 undergraduate programs: Physical Education, Leisure and Recreation, Sports Coaching, Social Sports, Traditional Chinese Sports, Dance Choreography, Sport Science, Applied Psychology, English, Journalism, Public Administration, Marketing, Information Management and Information Systems, as well as Health Rehabilitation; 4 doctoral programs, as well as 11 postgraduate programs in which the Sports Event Management and the Sport Journalism programs are the only majors in mainland China.
Since its foundation, the University has trained over 200 Ph. D students, over 1,300 postgraduates, over 14,300 undergraduates, nearly 9,800 adult students and more than 2,200 three-year-school students. Over the years, SUS has gained the advantage in wrestling, Wushu, boxing etc and has won quite a few honors and awards in sports events both at home and abroad. Zou Shi-ming, a student at SUS, won the gold medal in Men’s Boxing 48kg at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which fulfilled the zero breakthroughs in boxing of China as well as in the record of gold medalists of SUS. Apart from these, from 1987 to 2009 students at SUS have won 3 bronze medals in the Olympic Games, 20 gold medals in world championships, 39 gold medals in Asian Games and Asian Championships, 16 gold medals in National Games of China, 197 medals in National Championships; 4 students broke the world record 4 times, and 4 broke the Asian record 12 times; 9 coaches 13 times and 12 students 14 times won the National Sports Medal of Honor. At present, the enrolled number of full-time undergraduate students is over 3,900, together with more than 900 postgraduate students, about 1,200 overseas students and over 1,800 adult students.
The University has taken an active part in international academic exchange and cooperation. At present, it has established a sound exchange relationship with more than 40 universities from more than 10 countries and regions of the world, mainly from the United States of America, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Finland, Australia and other countries and districts. In April 2006, the Ministry of Education of China granted the University the authority to admit overseas students with the Chinese Government Scholarship.
Looking ahead, SUS will remain sports-oriented, obtain support from Shanghai to serve the whole country and make its place in the world. The University will continue its effort to develop sports programs as its mainstay, undergraduate program as its foundation, stressing the cultivation of high-level competitive talents and striving to become a first-class teaching and research modern sport university.
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