# Northwest Minzu University

> university in Lanzhou, Gansu, China

**Wikidata**: [Q7060264](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7060264)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Minzu_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/northwest-minzu-university

## Summary
Northwest Minzu University is a public university in Lanzhou, Gansu, China, established in August 1950 to specialize in education for ethnic minorities. It operates under the National Ethnic Affairs Commission and has undergone name changes reflecting its upgraded academic status, becoming a full university in 2003.

## Key Facts
- Founded on August 1, 1950, in Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
- Originally named **西北民族学院** (Northwest Nationalities College); renamed **西北民族大学** (Northwest Minzu University) in April 2003.
- Affiliated with the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China.
- Notable affiliated individual: Yu Hongzhi, a Chinese computer scientist and politician.
- Identifiers: ISNI 0000000101083408, GND 1087180996, VIAF 150448687.
- Coordinates: 36.04416611111111° N, 103.81679305555555° E.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Northwest Minzu University founded?
A: The university was founded on August 1, 1950.

### Q: What is the university’s academic focus?
A: It specializes in education for ethnic minorities, reflecting its mission under the National Ethnic Affairs Commission.

### Q: Has the university undergone name changes?
A: Yes, it was renamed from **西北民族学院** (Northwest Nationalities College) to **西北民族大学** (Northwest Minzu University) in April 2003.

## Why It Matters
Northwest Minzu University plays a critical role in China’s ethnic education system, addressing the academic and cultural needs of minority groups. As a ministry-owned institution under the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, it contributes to national policies on ethnic minority development and cultural preservation. Its history, spanning over 70 years, aligns with China’s efforts to promote education in ethnically diverse regions, making it a key player in fostering social cohesion and specialized scholarship.

## Notable For
- Designated as a "ministry-owned university" with direct government affiliation.
- Unique mission to educate ethnic minority students, distinguishing it from general universities.
- Official name change in 2003 signifying its transition to a comprehensive university.
- Holder of the Unified Social Credit Identifier **12100000438041616G**.
- Recognized internationally with identifiers in VIAF, GND, and ISNI databases.

## Body
### Founding and History
- Established in **August 1950** as **西北民族学院** (Northwest Nationalities College).
- Renamed **西北民族大学** (Northwest Minzu University) in **April 2003** to reflect expanded academic offerings.

### Academic Focus
- Specializes in ethnic minority education, including language, culture, and social development programs.
- Serves as a hub for research on China’s ethnic minority policies and regional studies.

### Affiliations
- Governed by the **National Ethnic Affairs Commission** of the People’s Republic of China.
- Classified as a "ministry-owned university," indicating direct state oversight.

### Notable Individuals
- **Yu Hongzhi** (born 1947): Computer scientist and politician affiliated with the university.

### Identifiers and Recognition
- **ISNI**: 0000000101083408
- **GND**: 1087180996
- **VIAF**: 150448687
- **Unified Social Credit Code**: 12100000438041616G
- **Website**: [http://www.xbmu.edu.cn/](http://www.xbmu.edu.cn/) (in Simplified Chinese)

### Location
- Headquarters in **Lanzhou, Gansu Province**, China.
- Geographic coordinates: **36.04416611111111° N, 103.81679305555555° E**.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. CiNii Research
4. [学校介绍-西北民族大学](https://www.xbmu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjs.htm)
5. GRID Release 2015-12-14
6. GRID Release 2016-12-06
7. Open Funder Registry
8. Quora
9. [Source](https://orcid.org/signin)
10. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
11. HAL
12. Credit China
13. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)