The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly released a list of 42 universities and colleges that will participate in the country’s plan to create world-class universities and first-class disciplines – called the “Double First-Class" initiative. Yunnan University is the only institution of higher learning in the province covered by the initiative.

Yunnan University was founded in 1922. As the oldest university in China’s southwest frontier, it has now developed into a talent-intensive and key comprehensive university. It specialises in the fields of ethnology, ecology, featured resource development, environmental protection, frontier issues and South and Southeast Asian studies. The university also offers a complete range of disciplines including literature, history, philosophy, economics, laws, education, natural sciences and the arts.

Currently, Yunnan University has established a good relationship of cooperation with a number of colleges and universities from more than 100 countries and regions including the USA, the UK, the Australia and so on. And each year, there are more than 300 students going abroad from the university to study and exchange.