Introduction to School of Mathematics, Jilin University

The School of Mathematics (Department of Mathematics) of Jilin University is an important base for mathematics research and talent training in China, and is among the first batch in every strategic layout of major discipline in the country. During the nationwide restructuring of colleges and universities in 1952, the state selected 14 teachers from several key universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University to establish the former Department of Mathematics of Jilin University. In 1978, the Institute of Mathematics of Jilin University was established with the approval of the former State Education Commission. In 2001, the Department of Mathematics or Mathematics Teaching and Research Department of the former Jilin University, the former Jilin University of Technology, the former Changchun University of Science and Technology, the former Norman Bethune Health Science Center of Jilin University, the former Changchun Institute of Posts and Telecommunications were merged to form the School of Mathematics of Jilin University. In 2014, the former Mathematics Teaching and Research Department of the Department of Agriculture of Jilin University was formally merged into the School of Mathematics of Jilin University. Famous mathematicians including Academician Wang Xianghao, Professor Jiang Zejian, Professor Xu Lizhi, Professor Xie Bangjie, Professor Wang Rouhuai, and Professor Sun Yifeng have taught in the former Department of Mathematics of Jilin University.

After 70 years of accumulation and development, the School of Mathematics has become an important talent training base with outstanding advantages in subject development, excellent teaching staff, and high level of teaching and research.

In 1981, Basic Mathematics and Computational Mathematics became the first doctoral authorization points approved by the country.

In 1987, Basic Mathematics and Computational Mathematics became the first batch of national key subjects.

In 1988, the first batch of national postdoctoral research stations were established in the mathematics discipline.

In 1991, the mathematics discipline established one of the first batch of national “Basic scientific research and teaching talent training bases” and established base classes.

In 1993, the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science jointly established the Key Laboratory of “Symbolic Computing and Knowledge Engineering” of the Ministry of Education.

In 1998, the mathematics discipline became one of the first batch of first-level doctoral degree programs in mathematics in the country, and was supported by the national “211 Project” and “985 Project”.

In 2007, the mathematics discipline became one of the first batch of national first-level key disciplines. In the same year, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics became the first batch of national first-class specialty majors. Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Information and Computing Science have become the first batch of specialty major construction sites in colleges and universities in Jilin Province.

In 2009, the School of Mathematics of Jilin University was selected as the first batch of national “Basic Disciplines Top Students Training Pilot Program” (Everest Plan).

In 2011, the Department of Statistics became the first batch of first-level doctoral programs in statistics in the country.

In 2013, the School of Mathematics of Jilin University was selected into the first batch of the country’s “Secondary School Students Science and Technology Innovation Reserve Talent Training Plan” (Elite Plan).

In 2014, Statistics became the first batch of “Twelfth Five-Year Plan” key disciplines with advantages and characteristics in Jilin Province, and Statistics was selected as the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan” undergraduate specialty in colleges and universities in Jilin Province.

In 2017, the mathematics discipline became one of the first batch of national “double first-class” construction disciplines.

In 2018, the Tianyuan Mathematical Center in Northeast China was established (one of the first batch in the country).

In 2019, the mathematics major entered the top 1% of the world in the ESI ranking. In the same year, the Mathematics and Applied Mathematics major became one of the first batch of first-class undergraduate majors in the country.

In 2020, National Center for Applied Mathematics in Jilin was established (the first batch in the country). In the same year, it was selected into the “Basic Subjects Enrollment Reform Pilot” (the first batch of national Strengthening Foundation Plan) and the first batch of the national “Top Students Training Program for basic subjects version 2.0”. The Information and Computing Science major became the first-class undergraduate major in the country.

In 2021, it was selected as a Class A base of the Sino-Russian Mathematics Center. In the same year, the Statistics major became a national first-class undergraduate major.

In 2022, the mathematics discipline was once again selected as a national “double first-class” construction discipline, selected into the “Innovation and Intelligence Program for Higher Education Disciplines” (111 project), and selected into the first batch of “Innovation China” international innovation cooperation base—Northeast Mathematics Innovation base.

In 2023, the mathematics and physics disciplines jointly established the “Material Simulation Methods and Software” Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education. At the same time, the establishment of Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Computational Modeling and Intelligent Algorithms and Applications for International Science and Technology Cooperation was approved.

The School of Mathematics has a strong faculty, with 167 full-time teachers, including 61 professors, 63 associate professors, and 51 doctoral supervisors. The college has 2 dual-appointed academicians, 1 honorary professor, 3 winners of the National Outstanding Youth Fund, 1 national “Ten Thousand Talents Plan” scientific and technological innovation leading talent, 2 talents of National Millions of Talent Projects, 1 national-level teacher, 3 candidates for the Overseas High-Level Talent Introduction Program, 2 winners of the National Outstanding Youth Fund, 1 young scholar of the “Ministry of Education’s Major Talent Project”, 1 winner of the National Top 100 Doctoral Papers, and 10 Cross-Century/New Century Talents of the Ministry of Education, 1 member of the Discipline Evaluation Group of the Academic Degree Committee of the State Council, 3 members of the Teaching Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education, 3 recipients of special government allowances from the State Council, 5 Changbaishan Scholars of Jilin Province, and 5 Famous Teachers of Jilin Province.

The School of Mathematics has achieved remarkable results in scientific research and teaching. Since 1982,the unit has won 3 National Natural Science Awards, 1 National Science and Technology Progress Award, 2 Ministry of Education Natural Science Awards, 1 China Youth Science and Technology Award, 1 China Young Female Scientist Award, and won 14 former State Education Commission and Ministry of Education Science and technology progress awards, 6 other provincial and ministerial science and technology awards; 1 special prize for national outstanding teaching achievements, 1 second prize for national teaching achievement awards, 1 second prize for the first national teaching material construction, and 4 former National Education Commission excellent teaching materials awards, 27 provincial and ministerial excellent teaching materials awards; The unit has undertaken 4 national quality courses, 3 national quality resource sharing courses, 5 famous Ministry of Education base brand courses, 42 national planning teaching materials construction projects, 5 teaching materials for the 21st century, and published 51 national planning teaching materials.

The School of Mathematics currently offers three undergraduate majors: Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Information and Computing Science, and Statistics, covering two first-level disciplines: Mathematics and Statistics. There is also a minor in actuarial science (a bachelor’s degree in economics is awarded). There are currently 1,158 undergraduate students, 515 graduate students, and 24 postdoctoral researchers. From the establishment of the “Base Class” in 1991, to the “Tang Aoqing Experimental Class” in 2009, and then to the “Strong Base Class”, the college has accumulated rich experience in cultivating outstanding talents through 30 years of teaching practice, and established a mathematics honor-course system. By optimizing the curriculum system, broadening the subject foundation, strengthening international exchanges, and strengthening scientific research training, a large number of mathematics professionals have been cultivated. Among them are 6 academicians and senior professors: Academician Wang Xianghao, Academician Dong Yunmei, Academician Fang Fuquan, Academician Dai Jiujiu, Senior Professor Zhang Yishan, and Academician Li Kai; 12 famous university presidents and more than 40 university vice presidents; more than 100 national-level Talent. It has provided more than 10,000 outstanding talents to national scientific research institutions, colleges and universities, government agencies, large enterprises and high-tech companies.

The School of Mathematics of Jilin University has excellent teaching staff, strong academic atmosphere, steadfast scientific spirit, and rich educational achievements. It is an essential mathematics training center located in Northeast China. Generations of students have worked hard and strive towards the goal of being a world-class subject!