Chronicles of the Board of Trustees of Jinan University

Jinan University (originally called National Jinan School) is the first national university for overseas Chinese students and is one of the first universities that established a board of trustees. The board of trustees of the National Jinan School was established in March 1922 with the approval of the Ministry of Education the then Beiyang Government. 17 celebrities from the circles of education, Overseas Chinese communities, and industrial circles were employed as the members of trustee, among whom were Shi Liangcai, Huang Yanpei, Zhang Xuan etc. In 1927, the National Jinan School was renamed as National Jinan University. In the spring of 1931, a resolution of setting up a new board of trustees of the university was adopted on the 126th meeting of the central executive committee of Chinese Kuomintang. Song Zimin, Lin Sen, Kong Xiangxi, Ma Chaojun, Chen Yaoheng, Yu Jingtang, Wu Tiecheng, Xiao Focheng etc were employed as the trustees. Chen Lifu, Sun Ke, Zheng Hongnian were employed as permanent member of the committee.

In 1958, Jinan University was re-established in Guangzhou with approval of the State Council of People’s Republic of China. Then on February 9, 1963, the board of trustees of Jinan University was established. Principals of the governments, celebrities of the circle of education, circle of overseas Chinese affairs, and those of the overseas Chinese communities in Hong Kong, Macao and other countries. Mr. Liao Chengzhi took the post of Director of the board. In 1970, the university was suspended school for political reasons.

Then in 1978, the university was revived by the State Council and the central committee of CPC. On June 9th, Mr. Liao Chengzhi chaired the first session of the first board of trustees after revival. On the meeting, the post-revival affairs were discussed: the Development Outline of Jinan University (1978-1985) was reviewed and approved and the articles of the board were adopted. Also, the purpose and principle of the board was decided on the meeting, which is “provide sufficient assistance in building a better Jinan University by carrying forward the patriotism of overseas Chinese in Hong Kong, Macao and abroad and their enthusiasm in providing support to the comprehensive modernization of motherland”. Under such principle, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and the Government of Guangdong Province invited compatriots abroad and those in Hong Kong Macao etc and figures of the education circles to take the posts of members of the board of trustees of Jinan University, and Mr. Liao Chengzhi to be chairman of the board.

On the first meeting of the 2nd board of trustees of JInan University, a resolution was passed on establishing an Office of Hong Kong Affairs and Jinan University Education Fund so as to maintain better contacts with the outside world and provide better support to the development of the university. Mr. Rong Yiren assumed the post of Chairman of the Board of Trustees of our university.

The first meeting of the 3rd Board of Trustees was convened in January 1994. A report was proposed and discussed on the university’s plan of enlisting on the National “211 Program” and was passed. Mr. Qian Weichang, the vice chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference took over the chairmanship for Mr. Rong Yiren, who was then the vice president of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and was very much occupied with government affairs,?? had to renounce from the post.

On the first meeting of 4th board of Trustees held on January 30, 1999, the blueprint of the perspective of the university was mapped out and new members of the boards were elected. Mr. Rong Yiren took the post of honorary chairman of the board and Mr. Qian Weichang retained the post of chairman.

On November 16th, 2003, the first meeting of the 5th Board of Trustees was held where new members were elected. Mr. Rong Yiren and Mr. Qian Weichang retained their former posts.

November 16th, 2006 was the centennial of the university. On the second day of the centennial, the 2nd meeting of the 5th Board of Trustees was held, on which the Articles of Board of Trustees of Jinan University was revised.?

The 5th board of Trustees consists of 80 members, who are from U.S, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Dutch, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao etc.

Regulation of the Board of Trustees of Jinan University

(Revised by 2nd Session of the 5th Board of Trustees in November, 2006)

Jinan University is the first university set up by the state for overseas Chinese education and one of the National “211 Program” Key University of China. The university always gears to the educational need of overseas Chinese students and that of the students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and has turned out talents of varies kinds for the world. The Board of Trustees of Jinan University is an organization aims to better mobilize the overseas Chinese communities, which have a glorious patriotic tradition and have great zeal for the educational undertakings of China, for the prosperity of Jinan University. The president of Jinan University reports to the Board of Trustees.

1. The Board of Trustees of Jinan University is an organization provides assistance to the government for operation and development of Jinan University.

2. The board of Trustees is composed of celebrities of the overseas Chinese communities and Chinese government officials. The Board nominates candidates in case of augment of trustees and the nomination will be submitted to Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council for consideration and approval.

3. The Board has one chairman, several vice chairman, one secretary general (the position is held by the head of the Jinan University who is also the chairman of the board), several vice secretary-generals (the posts are held by trustees). The service term for each position is four years.

4. The Board of Trustees of Jinan University is committed to:

5. The board meeting is called by the board chairman (or vice chairman who is authorized by the chairman). The plenary meeting of the board is held annually or every two years.

6. Board of Trustees Office and agencies of the Board in Hong Kong and Macao have been set up to facilitate contacts with the members of the Board of Trustees of Jinan University.

7. Secretary General is authorized to chair the daily operation and reports to the board when the board is not in session.

8. The present regulation shall be passed on the plenary meeting of the Board and shall be reported to the Overseas Chinese Office of the State Council for record.

9. Article No. 8 is to be observed for interpretation and amendment of the present regulation.

A Brief Introduction to All Successive Chairmen of Board of Trustees of Jinan University

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