Jimei University, a key university located in Xiamen City, Fujian Province, is jointly constructed by the Ministry of Transport, the State Oceanic Administration, the Fujian Provincial Government and the Xiamen Municipal Government. The University enrolls students from all over the country as well as from overseas. There are currently over 27,000 students. More than 25,000 are full-time undergraduate students. Over 1,400 are pursuing masters and other postgraduate degrees. Doctorate degree programs are also offered. Jimei University has a long history going back almost one hundred years. Its origin can be traced back to Jimei Normal School, founded in 1918 by Chen Jiageng (Tan Kah Kee), a famous overseas Chinese patriotic leader. Two years later, the Fisheries and Business divisions of Jimei School were founded. The University’s philosophy of cultivating talent combined with sincerity and perseverance reflects the spirit and values set up by Mr. Chen Jiageng. Over the years, the University has become a highly reputable institution and continues to develop and grow. Jimei University has twenty one colleges offering sixty-eight undergraduate courses in nine disciplines: Economics, Law, Pedagogy, Arts, Science, Engineering, Agronomy, Administration, and Fine Arts. There is also one postdoctoral offered in Fisheries, two doctorate programs in Fisheries, Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering. There are 8 first class provincial disciplines (including 2 characteristic key disciplines). Nine masters degree authorization disciplines are offered in the field of Fisheries, Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Food Science and Engineering, Communication and Transportation, Applied Economics, Sports Science, Mathematics, Chinese Language and Literature, and Biology. The University offers four masters courses in Agronomy, Engineering, Pedagogy and Taxation. Jimei University has over 2,000 teachers of which over 1,500 are full time teachers. Among these full time teachers, more than 800 are professors and associate professors. The University excels in both teaching and research and has received many "outstanding talent" awards. Students have also excelled in their chosen studies and won many competitions at the provincial and national level. The University has carried out a wide range of academic exchanges and cooperation with more than one hundred universities and research institutes across the globe, including the United States, Britain, Australia, Hongkong and Macao. These institutions include The International Maritime Organization (IMO), The International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) and International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU). The University has established cooperation with The Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange, the Sino-Foreign Joint Education Program, and the Cross-Strait Education Program.. The University is authorized by Ministry of Education to enroll students from Hongkong Special Administrative Regions exempted from admission exams and to recruit students from Taiwan.