Introduction

With a rich academic heritage spanning 70 years, the School of Water and Environment embodies profound scholarly depth. Currently, it employs 146 faculty members, including over ten recipients of national and provincial/ministerial talent initiatives. Among its full-time teaching staff are 36 professors and 38 doctoral supervisors, with senior-titled professionals accounting for 65% of the cohort. 


The school hosts multiple high-caliber research and teaching teams renowned for their academic influence within the field.

The school boasts a comprehensive disciplinary framework, featuring two first-level doctoral degree programs in Environmental Science and Engineering and Hydraulic Engineering, alongside nine second-level doctoral specializations. It offers three full-time masters degree programs—Environmental Science and Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, and Chemical Engineering and Technology—with nine corresponding second-level master’s specializations. Additionally, it holds professional doctorate/master’s authorization categories in Civil Water Conservancy and Resources and Environment, while recruiting postdoctoral researchers in both first-level disciplines. Notably, its Environment/Ecology and Chemistry disciplines have entered the TOP 1% globally in ESI rankings, and its Hydraulic Engineering discipline ranked among the TOP 100 in the 2022 Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 global university rankings, the institution’s Water Resources discipline achieved a landmark tenth position worldwide.  

 

Equipped with robust educational infrastructure, the school offers four nationally accredited undergraduate programsHydrology and Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Processes, Groundwater Science and Engineering—all certified by China Engineering Education Accreditation (CEEAA) and designated as National First-Class Major Construction Points. Its Groundwater Science and Engineering program stands out as the nation’s sole “Excellent Engineer” training base for this specialty.

 

Research capabilities are fortified by nine Provincial/Ministerial research platforms, headlined by the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Groundwater Ecological Effects in Arid Regions, complemented by two provincial-level experimental teaching centers focused on water resources, environment, chemical engineering, and bioengineering. Three multifunctional in-situ testing sites for water resources and ecology further enhance practical innovation cultivation.  

 

Global engagement thrives through collaborative partnerships with institutions across Germany, the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Russia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. A flagship collaboration with Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen established the International Training Center for Water Resources and Environmental Research in Arid and Semiarid Regions.  

 

Adhering to an integrated model linking industry, academia, and research, the school has long contributed to national and regional water conservancy and ecological stewardship. Key contributions include intellectual and technical support for Shaanxi’s mountainous landscape restoration,  “Eight Rivers Revitalizing Chang’an” plan, urban ecological monitoring, river quality assessment, Qinling Mountain protection, and sustainable development along the Yellow River Basin. Recognized for exceptional social impact, the school has institutionalized specialized bodies under provincial/municipal auspices: the Qinling Ecological Environment Research Institute, Xi’an River Chief Academy, and Shaanxi Groundwater Management College. As a core participant in the Shaanxi Yellow River Scientific Research Institute, it actively advances ecological preservation and high-quality development strategies for the Yellow River Basin.


Faculty Highlights