As its name suggests, the Ocean University of China (OUC) is one of the nation’s leading educational institutions in the studies of oceanography and fisheries science, describing itself as “the cradle of China’s marine professionals”.
The OUC also offers courses in a number of other disciplines, with 69 undergraduate programs managed by 22 different departments.
Originally established in 1924, the Ocean University of China has gone through a number of transformations in its short history. It started life as the Private Qingdao University and subsequently underwent several historical changes as the National Qingdao University, National Shandong University, Shandong University and Ocean University of Qingdao, before taking its current name in 2002.
OUC’s three campuses are located around the city of Qingdao. Yushan Campus is in a popular tourist area in the Shinan District of the city, while the smaller Fushan Campus is located close to the University of Qingdao. The newest campus, Laoshan, opened in 2006 and hosts a large proportion of the university departments.
OUC is also a member of the national schemes Project 211 and Project 985, designed to promote the reputation of the country’s higher education system through increased funding for China’s top 100 and top 40 universities respectively.
In 2004, the OUC established the OUC Alumni Association as a means of connecting the university’s numerous graduates since it was founded 1924, who include Jiang Jialun, the first Chinese scientist to reach the South Pole on foot and Wang Hong, administrator of the State Oceanic Administration.
