Graphic communication education in China started in the 1950’s, much late than foreign countries.  But it developed quickly during last 10 years since 1998, nowadays, more than 17 universities and more than 10 academies offer printing engineering and related courses.    Among them, the famous universities and academies are University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Wuhan University and Xi’an University of Technology, below is their brief instruction of them.

 

Printing education in University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST) started from foundation of Shanghai Printing School in 1953, which became secondary vocational school in 1957; This school offered the first academy class of graphic communication in 1960, it was the earliest academy education of graphic communication in China; Then, it upgraded to Shanghai Publishing and Printing Academy in 1988 and was renamed Shanghai Publishing and Printing College in 1992; In 2003, it became associate school of USST，and kept its organizational system; Afterwards, Publishing and Printing School of USST incorporated with Arts Design School of USST, and was named School of Communication and Art Design in 2007, meanwhile, Shanghai Publishing and Printing College still operated independently (mainly for offering senior vocational education).  From then on, undergraduate and above level of education was apart from senior vocational education.  Now, printing and related undergraduate courses offered by USST are printing engineering and digital printing.  We should say, they still mainly offer traditional printing education, but emphasize newly developing digital printing and content related with print on demand.

 

History of Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication can be traced back to foundation of printing engineering department of Culture College of Chinese Ministry of Culture.  The first undergraduate class enrolled 40 students nationwide in 1960, it is the earliest college offering printing undergraduate courses in China; Culture College closed in 1961 and its printing engineering department jointed Central Academy of Arts & Design.  After approval by State Council, printing engineering department was independent and became Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication in 1978, which is the only institute featuring printing, publishing and communication education.  The courses offered by Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication transited from printing technology to printing engineering.  At present, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication gradually offers printing courses, including graphic communication processing technology, printing and copying technology, finishing processes technology and digital printing technology.  It still is a relatively traditional mode of printing education, which means this institute focuses on traditional media communication and regards printing education as engineering education and applied science.  This institute covers full range of printing education, and offers more chooses for students.

 

History of printing education in Wuhan University can be traced back to foundation of printing technology education of cartograph drawing department of Wuhan Technical University of Surveying and Mapping in 1983; In 1987, printing engineering department was formed; And it was renamed Printing Engineering College in 1996, which included department of journalism, department of radio & television, department of advertising, department of graphic communication, department of package design and department of internet communication.  Printing related courses were printing engineering, electronic publishing, internet communication, and so on; In 2000, Wuhan Technical University of Surveying and Mapping jointed Wuhan University.  Journalism College incorporated with Printing Engineering College, named College of Journalism & Communication; In 2004, printing & packaging education separated from the college and became department of printing & packaging of Wuhan University; Since 2005, Wuhan University has right to grant doctor degree and master degree of graphic communication engineering, and listed printing education into graphic communication education.

 

The Faculty of Printing and Packaging Engineering of Xi’an University of Technology was founded in 1974, whose original basis is Shanxi Institute of Mechanical Engineering, which was consolidated by Beijing Institute of Machinery and Shanxi Polytechnic University.  Shanxi Institute of Mechanical Engineering was renamed as Xi’an University of Technology in 1994.  At the beginning, Faculty of Printing and Packaging Engineering just offered printing machinery courses.  After 30 years’ development, its bachelor programs include printing engineering, printing equipment & automation, and electronic information engineering.  Its master programs include printing engineering and signal & information processing.  The courses related to printing education offered by Xi’an University of Technology are traditional printing engineering education. The university features printing machinery courses, and also emphasizes the confluence of printing and information.

 

In a word, China’s high education of graphic communication started later than foreign countries, especially developed western countries.  Although people tried to combine printing education with graphic communication and information technology, China’s high printing education of graphic communication still focuses on traditional media and engineering presently.  China’s high education of graphic communication basically matches development of printing technology and printing industry in China.  But compared with foreign country, China’s high education of printing industry can’t trace and reflect the latest printing technology and printing industry.  It reacts slowly toward the changes of media, image, information, new media and impact.

 

In foreign countries, institute combines printing education with publishing education, however, China’s education combines printing with packaging.  It is because of China’s discipline system of undergraduate courses and high educational administrative system.   In China’s discipline system of bachelor programs, printing engineering, digital printing and packaging engineering belong to the science of light industry and textile & food engineering.  Editing & publishing, communication, advertisement belong to the science of journalism and communication.  In 1997, printing engineering was separated from discipline system of bachelor programs, which greatly affects the development of high education of graphic communication.