Northeast Forestry University (NEFU) is a higher education institution with strengths in forestry sciences and distinctive forestry engineering, promoting coordinated development across multiple disciplines. It is located in Harbin, the center of China’s largest state-owned forest region. The campus covers an area of 136 hectares. It includes various teaching, research, and internship bases, such as Mao’ershan Experimental Forest Farm (Mao’ershan Forest Park) and Liangshui Experimental Forest Farm (Liangshui National Nature Reserve), with a total area of 33,000 hectares.

History and Development

NEFU was founded in July 1952 under the name Northeast Forestry College, established based on the forestry departments of Zhejiang University’s College of Agriculture and Northeast Agricultural College. It was initially under the direct administration of the former Ministry of Forestry. In August 1985, it was renamed Northeast Forestry University. In February 2000, it was transferred to the direct administration of the Ministry of Education from the former State Forestry Administration. In October 2005, it was approved as a key university under the national “211 Project” by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Education. In November 2010, the Ministry of Education and the former State Forestry Administration signed a cooperation agreement to develop the university. In June 2011, it became a key university under the National “Innovative Platforms for Advantageous Disciplines” project. In March 2012, the Ministry of Education and the People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province signed a cooperation agreement to support the university. In September 2017, it was approved by the State Council as a “Double First-Class” university. In February 2022, it was selected for the second round of the national “Double First-Class” initiative.

Faculty and Students

NEFU currently has over 30,000 postgraduate and full-time undergraduate students, including 19,691 undergraduates and 10,957 postgraduates. The university employs more than 2,400 faculty and staff members, including 1,416 full-time faculty members. Among them are one academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, 44 recipients of national talent programs, 26 experts receiving special government allowances from the State Council, one nationally recognized outstanding young and middle-aged expert, and six provincial and ministerial outstanding young and middle-aged experts. NEFU also has two national Huang Danian-style faculty teams, five forestry science and technology innovation teams under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, nine leading talent teams in Heilongjiang Province, and four “Head Goose” teams in the province. In recent years, NEFU has received numerous accolades, including one recipient of the National Model Educator Award, five national-level teaching masters, five National Outstanding Teachers, two National Model Teachers, one National Advanced Worker in Education, four National Forestry and Grassland Teaching Masters, one National Worker Pioneer Team, two recipients of the National May 1st Labor Medal, one National May 1st Women’s Model Worker, one National March 8th Red-Banner Holder, one National Outstanding Grassroots Theoretical Lecturer, three Provincial Model Workers, 27 Provincial Teaching Masters, eight recipients of the Provincial Outstanding Teacher Award, four recipients of the Provincial Youth May 4th Medal, and two individuals recognized as “Longjiang Good People.”

Disciplines and Programs

NEFU comprises a graduate school, 20 colleges, and one teaching department, offering 73 undergraduate programs and 26 first-class national-level undergraduate program construction sites. It has nine first-level discipline doctoral programs, two professional doctoral degree programs, 18 first-level discipline master’s programs, and 19 professional master’s degree categories. The university also has 10 postdoctoral research mobile stations and one postdoctoral research workstation. NEFU has two world-class disciplines under national construction—Forestry Engineering and Forestry—and four nationally leading disciplines: Biology, Ecology, Landscape Architecture, and Agricultural and Forestry Economic Management. Additionally, it houses three national key first-level disciplines, 11 national key second-level disciplines, eight key disciplines under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, two key (cultivation) disciplines under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, one key discipline group in Heilongjiang Province, and seven key first-level disciplines in the Heilongjiang province. It also has a State Training Base for Talents in Life Science and Technology, which was co-approved by the State Development Planning Commission, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Education. a Training Base for Research and Teaching Talents (Biology) approved by the Ministry of Education. NEFU is also a state pilot university for reforming the educational system and State Training Program of Excellent Engineer and Excellent Agricultural and Forest Talents. It is also a demonstration university for deepening innovation and entrepreneurship education by the Ministry of Education and a national practice-based innovation and entrepreneurship base for universities.

Teaching and Research Platforms

NEFU boasts excellent teaching and research platforms and practical teaching bases, including the National Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (NEFU) and the Heilongjiang Mao’ershan Forest Ecosystem National Field Science Observation and Research Station. The university also hosts four key laboratories in Forest Plant Ecology, Biomass Material Science and Technology, Northeast Saline-Alkali Vegetation Restoration and Reconstruction, and Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems under the Ministry of Education, six key laboratories under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, 16 Key Laboratories in Heilongjiang Province, four international cooperation laboratories in Heilongjiang Province, two Engineering Research Centers approved by the Ministry of Education, five Engineering Technology Research Centers under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and a Feline Research Center. Additionally, there are three University Discipline Innovation and Talent Introduction Bases (one of which has been upgraded to the “2.0” program). NEFU also hosts three national experimental teaching demonstration centers for Forestry, Forest Engineering, and Wildlife, two national virtual simulation experimental teaching centers for Forest Engineering and Wildlife, and six provincial experimental teaching demonstration centers. Furthermore, NEFU has two Field Scientific Observation and Research Stations under the Ministry of Education and four Ecosystem Positioning Research Stations under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. The university also maintains three provincial philosophy and social sciences research bases, six provincial key research bases for humanities and social sciences in general universities, and two provincial think tanks. Additionally, NEFU operates three long-term research bases approved by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration’s Wildlife Detection Center, Engineering Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, etc. It also hosts one Overseas Innovation and Practice Base for postgraduates, one National Demonstration Joint Training Base for Professional Degrees, and 165 off-campus innovation and practice bases for graduate students. In 2020, Mao’ershan Experimental Forest Farm, Liangshui Experimental Forest Farm, and the Forest Museum were selected as part of the fifth batch of National Forestry and Grassland Science Popularization Bases, with the Forest Museum upgraded to a “National Level II Museum.” In 2021, the Northeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center and the Carbon Neutrality Technology Innovation Institute were established.

International Exchange and Cooperation

NEFU actively engages in international exchange and cooperation, establishing intercollegiate partnerships with over 100 universities and research institutions in nearly 30 countries and regions. Each year, approximately 150 experts and scholars from abroad, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, visit the university for lectures, research collaboration, and academic exchanges. Additionally, over 120 faculty members are sent abroad annually for degree programs, training, educational visits, and research collaborations. The university has developed various student exchange programs with institutions in Russia, New Zealand, the UK, France, the US, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and other countries and regions. Additionally, the university actively selects students to pursue degrees abroad through national scholarship programs and jointly organizes Sino-foreign cooperative educational institutions and educational programs with the University of Auckland in New Zealand and Aston University in the United Kingdom. In May 2024, NEFU established the Hainan International Institute in Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone to create an international exchange platform through joint education programs, overseas study centers, research institutes, and faculty training programs. NEFU has hosted large international academic conferences, such as the “International Symposium on Tree Molecular Biology and Biotechnology” and the “International Symposium on Cross-Border Protection of Tigers and Leopards.” It is also a designated institution for receiving international students from over 100 countries under the Chinese Government Scholarship program.

Awards and Honors

In 2007, NEFU received an “Excellent” rating in the undergraduate teaching assessment. The Central Civilization Committee consecutively awarded it the honorary “National Civilized Unit” title in 2011, 2014, and 2017. In 2020, it was honored for the first time as a “National Civilized Campus” by the Central Civilization Committee and has been recognized as a provincial-level civilized unit for 16 consecutive years. In 2021, NEFU’s Party Committee was recognized as an “Advanced Grassroots Party Organization in Heilongjiang Province.” In recent years, NEFU has been designated as a National Ecological Civilization Education Base and has received numerous honors, including National Model Workers’ Home, National Advanced Collective in Teacher Ethics Development, National Model Unit for Greening, the 7th and 10th Mother River Award, National Advanced Unit for Student Financial Aid in Higher Education, National May Fourth Red Flag Youth League Committee, National May Fourth Red Flag Youth League Branch, Outstanding Project Office for the National College Student Volunteer Service Program in Western China, May Day Labor Award Unit in Heilongjiang Province, Top Ten Harmonious Campuses in Heilongjiang Province, Advanced Collective in Confidentiality Work in Heilongjiang Province, Advanced Collective in Patriotic Education in Heilongjiang Province, Advanced Unit in Legal Publicity and Education in the province, Advanced Unit in Military Recruitment Work in Heilongjiang Province, Advanced Collective in Military-Police-Civilian Co-construction and Co-education, Advanced Collective in Student Affairs Work in Heilongjiang Province, one of the first batch of Psychological Health Education Demonstration Centers in Heilongjiang Province, and one of the first Law-Based Governance Model Schools in the province. Additionally, it has been recognized 23 times as a National Advanced Unit for University Student Social Practice. In 2020, NEFU hosted the 12th “Challenge Cup” China College Student Entrepreneurship Competition, winning the Victory Cup and achieving outstanding results, including 2 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze medals. Since the Twelfth Five-Year Plan, NEFU has received 739 awards for scientific research achievements at various levels, including six National Second Prizes for Scientific and Technological Progress and 302 provincial and ministerial-level scientific research awards (29 of which are First Prizes). It has also been granted more than 1,600 invention patents. In 2014, 2018, and 2022, NEFU received four National Teaching Achievement Awards (Second Prize).

Mission and Vision

NEFU has always upheld the values of perseverance and dedication to ecological conservation, staying true to its original mission of “educating individuals for the Party and nurturing talent for the nation.” Guided by its motto, “Learning in harmony with nature, virtue in unity with the universe,” NEFU embodies the spirit of “unity and dedication, self-motivation, leveraging strengths, and striving for excellence.” It fosters a school ethos of “rigor, diligence, pragmatism, and innovation” and pursues the vision of “adorning the mountains and rivers with splendor, painting the land with brilliance.” Emphasizing its distinctive university culture of “nurturing people through forestry,” NEFU has remained deeply rooted in China, steadfastly committed to the northern frontier, dedicated to green landscapes, and devoted to ecological civilization for over seventy years. It has cultivated many highly specialized professionals, including national and provincial leaders, Chinese Academy of Engineering academicians, and distinguished figures in academia and industry. NEFU has also nurtured over 200,000 outstanding graduates, among them the builders of Saihanba Forest Farm, the young team of Yinggeling Nature Reserve, and Xu Xiujun, China’s first environmental protection martyr. These alumni have made significant contributions to forestry education, ecological civilization, and the economic and social development of the nation.

NEFU adheres to the overall leadership of the Communist Party of China and follows a development path centered on quality, sustainability, innovation, and cooperation. It is accelerating high-quality development, deeply integrating with national strategies and regional needs while continuously enhancing its strengths and distinct characteristics. Striving to rank among China’s top agricultural and forestry universities, NEFU aims to build itself into a high-level university with distinctive features and international recognition, dedicating itself to becoming a world-class forestry university with Chinese characteristics.

(Data as of December 2024)