Editing Beijing Normal University (section)

== History ==
Beijing Normal University (BNU) traces its origins to 1902, when the Department of Education of Imperial University of Peking ({{Lang|zh|京师大学堂师范馆}}) was established under the decree of the [[List of emperors of the Qing dynasty|Qing Dynasty Emperor]]. As the first institution in Chinese history dedicated primarily to teacher training and educational specialization, it laid the foundation for modern higher education in China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BNU History-Beijing Normal University |url=https://english.bnu.edu.cn/about/bnuhistory/index.htm |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=english.bnu.edu.cn}}</ref> In 1908, the school became independent and was renamed the Supreme Education School of Peking ({{Lang|zh|京师优级师范学堂}}).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=北京师范大学 |url=https://www.bnu.edu.cn/xxgk/xsyg/index.htm |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=www.bnu.edu.cn}}</ref>

By 1923, the institution had evolved into the National Beijing Normal University ({{Lang|zh|国立北京师范大学校}}),<ref name=":0" /> marking the first use of the "[[Normal University]]" designation in China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BNU History-Beijing Normal University |url=https://english.bnu.edu.cn/about/bnuhistory/index.htm |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=english.bnu.edu.cn}}</ref> A significant expansion occurred in 1931 when the Peking Women's Normal University ({{Lang|zh|北平女子师范大学}}) merged with the university, then known as Peking Normal University ({{Lang|zh|北平师范大学}}).<ref name=":0" /> Following the [[establishment of the People's Republic of China]] in 1949, the institution was renamed Beijing Normal University.<ref name=":0" />

The university underwent further consolidation in 1952 when [[Fu Jen Catholic University]] was merged into BNU as part of a nationwide reorganization of higher education.<ref name=":0" /> Seven years later, in 1959, the Chinese Ministry of Education designated BNU as one of China's 20 [[National Key Universities]], affirming its leading role in academia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-25 |title=建国以来重要文献选编第十二册 |url=http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64184/64186/66666/4493334.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130424150923/http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64184/64186/66666/4493334.html |archive-date=24 April 2013 |access-date= |website=}}</ref>

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, BNU strengthened its position through participation in major national initiatives. It was included in [[Project 211]] (1996), a program aimed at enhancing around 100 universities for 21st-century development, and later in [[Project 985]] (2002), which sought to elevate a select group of institutions to global prominence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=北京师范大学是985还是211大学？_大学生必备网 |url=https://www.dxsbb.com/news/30049.html |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=www.dxsbb.com}}</ref> The university gained international recognition in 2009 when ''[[The New York Times]]'' described it as "one of the most progressive institutions" in China.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wines |first=Michael |date=2 November 2009 |title=China Dismisses Minister of Education |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/world/asia/03china.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

BNU's academic standing was further solidified in 2017 when it was listed among China's [[Double First-Class Construction]] universities (comprising 36 institutions), with 11 of its disciplines ranking among the nation's best.<ref>{{Cite web |title=北京师范大学及12个学科入选第二轮"双一流"建设名单-北京师范大学新闻网 |url=https://news.bnu.edu.cn/zx/ttgz/126543.htm |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=news.bnu.edu.cn}}</ref> That same year, BNU expanded its footprint by partnering with the [[Guangdong Provincial Government]] and Zhuhai Municipal Government to establish a new campus in [[Zhuhai]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=sina_mobile |date=2017-08-30 |title=北师珠变成广东第三所985？真相来了！ |url=https://news.sina.cn/2017-08-30/detail-ifykpzey3081876.d.html?from=wap |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=news.sina.cn}}</ref> The BNU Zhuhai Campus received official approval from the [[Ministry of Education (China)|Ministry of Education]] in April 2019, marking a new phase in the university's development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About-北京师范大学珠海校区英文网 {{!}} Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai |url=https://english.bnuzh.edu.cn/About/index.htm |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=english.bnuzh.edu.cn}}</ref>[[Image:BNUbell.jpg|360x360px|thumb|The Mu Duo Gilded Bell]][[Image:BNUcampus.jpg|272x272px|thumb|right|Beijing Campus View]]
[[File:Lize building BNUZ.jpg|thumb|270x270px|Zhuhai Campus View]]