Normal Universities in China

A Normal University is an institution that primarily focuses on training teachers for schools and educational institutions. The term “normal” in this context comes from the French word “école normale”, meaning a model school established to set standards or “norms” for education. Originally, regular schools were designed to train future teachers with the skills, knowledge, and methodologies required to teach at elementary and secondary levels.

Over time, many regular schools worldwide have evolved into universities that focus on teacher education and offer a broad range of programs in various disciplines, including arts, sciences, engineering, and social sciences. In China, Normal Universities have grown into comprehensive institutions but still emphasize their core mission of producing high-quality teachers and conducting educational research.