Jiangnan University’s roots stretch back to 1902 when its predecessor, San Jiang Normal School, began its first term. In 1958, Jiangnan University began its independent existence as Wuxi Institute of Light Industry, which later merged with two other colleges in 2001, and was renamed as Jiangnan University by the Ministry of Education. The university, with the area of 208 hectares, consists of 18 schools and is the home to 3,343 staff and faculty members, 20,153 full-time undergraduates, 8,940 postgraduates and 1,285 international students.