Established in December 2010, the College of Nano Science & Technology (CNST) at Soochow University is the first college in China dedicated to interdisciplinary education in nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Shortly after its establishment, CNST was selected as one of the 17 National Pilot Colleges by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in October 2011, placing it at the forefront of higher education reform in China.

Over the years, CNST has grown rapidly alongside the Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), founded in 2008. Together, they have received multiple national designations, including membership in the first National Collaborative Innovation Center under the National 2011 Project, Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation (National “111 Project”), and National “Huang Danian-style Faculty Team”.

Committed to delivering high-quality professional education, CNST and FUNSOM jointly offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs centered on nanoscience and nanotechnology. The college currently has 1,283 students: 433 undergraduates, 641 master’s students, and 209 doctoral candidates. The college is supported by a strong faculty of over 170 members, including two academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

 CNST has pioneered a “Triple Integration” education model that combines teaching with research, integrates multiple disciplines, and aligns with international standards to foster innovative talent in nanotechnology. Its sole undergraduate program, Nanomaterials and Technology, is run in three streams: nanoelectronics, nanomaterials, and nanomedicine, so as to equip the students with both a broad interdisciplinary perspective and deep specialized knowledge in their chosen stream. The model earned the Second Prize of the 2018 National Teaching Achievement Award.