Jishou University

Jishou University (JSU) is a provincial comprehensive university located in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. It is jointly established by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission and the Hunan Provincial Government, and is recognized as a high-level construction university and a member of the Hunan 'Double First-Class' initiative.

Founded in 1958 and reestablished as a provincial university in 1978, JSU has grown through mergers with several local institutions, now operating two campuses: Jishou and Zhangjiajie. The university focuses on serving the Wuling Mountain region, with unique strengths in ecological poverty alleviation and ethnic culture preservation.

JSU's flagship programs include Ethnology, Ecology, Clinical Medicine, and Physical Education. Ethnology, with a postdoctoral research station and a first-level doctoral program, is renowned for its research on the cultures of the Wuling Mountain area.

Ecology benefits from a special national doctoral program focused on eco-poverty alleviation. Clinical Medicine is part of the Ministry of Education's 'Excellent Doctor Education and Training Plan,' and Physical Education is also highly regarded.

JSU has a strong faculty of over 1,200 full-time teachers, with more than 50% holding senior titles. It comprises 23 teaching colleges offering 75 undergraduate programs, 8 junior college programs, 3 first-level doctoral programs, 18 first-level master's programs, and 20 professional master's programs.

Research platforms include the Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission (Ecological Ethnology Research Base) and two postdoctoral stations. The curriculum emphasizes practical training through 'Excellent Doctor' and 'Excellent Agricultural and Forestry Talent' programs, as well as industry partnerships.

JSU's campuses cover over 2,900 mu (about 193 hectares) with nearly 600,000 square meters of buildings. The library holds over 6 million volumes (including electronic resources), and teaching equipment is valued at 280 million yuan.

The Jishou campus features lush greenery and the iconic Fengyu Lake, while the Zhangjiajie campus is near the stunning Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Student dormitories are equipped with air conditioning, hot water, and internet.