In December 2019, the Ministry of Education announced the first batch of "Double Ten Thousand Project". Among the list, three majors of DNUI, namely Computer Science and Technology, Software Engineering, and Digital Media Technology, are recognized as the national first-class undergraduate pilot majors. DNUI’s number of approved majors ranks first among all private colleges and universities (including independent colleges) around the country. Furthermore, among the first batch universities for the above-mentioned three majors, DNUI is the only private university (including independent colleges). The eye-catching achievement in the "Double Ten Thousand Project" best embodies the performance of this young private university with only 20 years’ history.
Pioneer of Large-scale Software Talent Cultivation in China
In the year of 2000, Dalian Neusoft University of Information was founded by Neusoft, the largest IT solution and service provider and the first listed software company in China. Located in Dalian Software Park (known as the "Silicon Valley" in north China), it is a part of Dalian National High-tech Industrial Zone. The advanced school-running model of an industry leader, as well as the advantages of policies, environment, and high-tech industry, has injected innate drive and vitality into the development of DNUI.
From the moment of its establishment, DNUI has clearly defined its application-oriented positioning which focuses on IT, service industry and the economic development of the region. DNUI adheres to the path of characteristic school running:
DNUI owns an application-oriented school-running system which integrates industry with education. A school-enterprise cooperation and win-win operation mechanism has been formed to ensure that enterprises can fully participate in the whole process of talent cultivation, including the specialty construction, cultivation program demonstration, curriculum construction, teaching implementation, experiments and training etc. With the introduction of outcome-based education concept (OBE), we focus on student development, and propose the novel TOPCARES education methodology. We have practiced an integrated TOPCARES talent cultivation model which combines professional education with ideological and political education, quality education, innovation and entrepreneurship education. We are committed to promoting the comprehensive and coordinated development of students’ intelligence, competence and quality. A unique innovation and entrepreneurship education system of SOVO (Student Office & Venture Office) has been established based on the real enterprise environment. A progressive practice platform of "universal education for innovation and entrepreneurship + innovation and entrepreneurship practice + virtual company operation + entrepreneurial outcome incubation" has been built. In addition, a campus high-tech park with in-depth integration of industry, education and research has been constructed. The concept of "introducing enterprises into universities, integrating industry with education, and connecting high-tech park with campus" has promoted DNUI to achieve great-leap-forward development.
Ranking among the best private universities in China
DNUI integrates the spirit of pioneering, innovation and daring into its school-running system and talent cultivation. As a witness, practitioner, and promoter of private higher education development, it keeps pace with the times, striding forward vigorously with the "quality and speed" of Neusoft education. In the past two decades, it has set a number of records among private universities, ranking among the best private universities in China.
In 2003, DNUI was approved the first batch of 35 national demonstrative software vocational colleges and became the chairman of the Association of Colleges. In 2005, it won the first prize of national teaching achievement, blazing the trail of private colleges nationwide. In recent years, it has successively received the awards of the first batch of 50 model universities with experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, and the first batch of 99 demonstrative universities in deepening innovative education reform. With the continuous improvement of education quality and results, DNUI has been widely recognized by all sectors of society. It has been awarded the honorary titles of Private University of Great Social Influence, China's Top Ten Private Universities, China's Most Competitive Private Universities, and Campus of Great Charm by Xinhuanet, China.org.cn and other media.
In the “Wu Shulian Top 100 Private Universities of Complex Strength in China”, DNUI ranked No. 5 for two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019. It also ranked first among all private colleges and independent colleges across the country according to the following two reports by China Association of Higher Education, namely the first “College Teacher Development Index” released in 2019, and the “Analysis Report on the Teaching Competition of College Teachers (2012-2019)” released in early 2020. Furthermore, in May 2020, DNUI was in the fifth place among private universities nationwide based on the "2020 University Rankings" released by Shanghai Ranking, the world's leading higher education evaluation institution.
By virtue of advanced concepts, methods and models, DNUI has cultivated thousands of high-quality, innovative, versatile, and application-oriented IT talents for industrial development. According to the Frost & Sullivan Report, in the 2019/2020 academic year, DNUI ranked first among all private colleges (excluding independent colleges) in Liaoning Province in terms of admission scores for science and liberal arts. It has witnessed an employment rate of over 95% in recent years.
Specification of statistics source: On December 24, 2019, the Ministry of Education issued the "Notice on the National and Provincial First-Class Undergraduate Pilot Majors in 2019". The notice clearly stated the first batch of 4054 national pilots of first-class undergraduate majors. According to statistics released by higher education research institutions such as Shanghai Ranking, Cingta, and iRankings, 147 universities are listed for Computer Science and Technology, 58 for Software Engineering, and 6 for Digital Media Technology. In the above mentioned pilots, DNUI is the only private university (including independent colleges).