“What does it take to cultivate not just crops, but also minds?” That’s the question that echoes through the history of Sichuan Agricultural University.
Here we stand before Sichuan Agricultural University. It is more than just a place of learning. It is a testament to Sichuan’s commitment to agriculture. It is also a beacon of innovation.
Sichuan Agricultural University’s story began in 1906. Xu Handu saw a need to strengthen the country through education. So he petitioned the Qing court to establish an agricultural school. The Sichuan Provincial Agricultural School was born. It was Sichuan’s first agricultural school. It was housed in an old warehouse in Chengdu.
Governor Xiliang spoke at the opening ceremony. He emphasized the importance of revitalizing agriculture. He aimed to reclaim Sichuan’s place as a land of abundance. The school offered courses in agriculture, sericulture and forestry. In 1910, Sichuan Agricultural University moved to a new campus near Wangjianglou.
After the 1911 Revolution, the school was renamed Sichuan Higher Agricultural School. College and secondary departments were added. In 1914, it became Sichuan Public Agricultural School. Undergraduate courses in agriculture and sericulture were introduced.
In 1927, Sichuan Public Agricultural School merged with five other schools. They formed Public Sichuan University. The agricultural school became the College of Agriculture.
The Sichuan Provincial Government made the engineering and agricultural sciences independent colleges in 1931. The College of Agricultural Sciences was named Sichuan Provincial Agricultural College.
Sichuan Provincial Agricultural College and Chongqing University Agricultural College merged into National Sichuan University in 1935. They created the College of Agriculture. British biochemist Joseph Needham praised agriculture. He called it the strongest discipline at Sichuan University in 1943.
During the reorganisation of Chinese higher education in 1952, several departments were transferred to Sichuan University College of Agriculture. These came from Southwest Agricultural College and other universities. This move laid a strong foundation for the college’s future.
In 1956, Sichuan University Agricultural College moved to Ya’an. It became an independent school. It was named Sichuan Agricultural College. The founding ceremony was held on September 5, 1956. By 1959, Sichuan Agricultural University was recruiting master’s students.
In 1985, the school was renamed Sichuan Agricultural University. That same year, it began recruiting doctoral students. In 1999, Sichuan Agricultural University became a “Project 211” institution. In September 2017, it was selected as a “Double First-Class Construction” university.
Today, Sichuan Agricultural University has three campuses. They are located in Chengdu, Ya’an and Dujiangyan. The Chengdu campus houses the most important colleges and research institutes. The Ya’an campus is divided by the Fenjiang River. The Dujiangyan Campus offers undergraduate programs.
Sichuan Agricultural University has 26 colleges and 4 research institutes. These cover disciplines from agriculture to art. There are national key disciplines. These include Animal Nutrition and Feeding plus Crop Genetics and Breeding.
International students can apply for scholarships. Sichuan Agricultural University organizes cultural festivals. One is the International Food and Culture Festival. The university motto encapsulates its mission. It is “Pursuing Truth, Benefiting Society and Self-improvement.”
As we conclude our visit, consider the journey of Sichuan Agricultural University. It is a journey from a small school in a warehouse to a leading agricultural university. Sichuan Agricultural University stands as a symbol of Sichuan’s agricultural heritage and its commitment to a sustainable future.