Adult education constitutes an important part in cultivating high-quality professionals. Established in 1960, at present, it has formulated the diversity of disciplines and majors and modes, such as the mutual supplement of adult school education, adult higher education examination after their self-study, further education of professionals and technicians, nationwide enrollment for the 2-to-3-year undergraduate education and administrative staff training. The higher learning for adults, so far, has produced over 10,000 graduates and provided professional training for over 6,000 administrative staff and technicians. More than 6,800 students are studying in Adult Education College.
   Equipped with 28 full-time administrative staff and 4 working staff, adult education college is responsible for the recruitment and management of adult education. It has established necessary sections such as the Adult Education College Office, the Education Section, the Student Affairs Section, the Examination Section, the Enrollment Section, the Further Education Section and the Administration Section as well as the Finance Section. Supervised by one of the vice principal of the university, it is operated with a relatively independent management mode by a leading group with aims to the decision- making and coordination of some important issues.
   The university has increased its input for adult education by large margins. In steps with the increase in education expenditures, there have been significant improvements in school facilities and functions. We will persistently follow the market demand, and place much emphasis on strengthening basic research and high technology research by supporting a contingent of highly-qualified top-notch researchers engaged in making pioneering advances in these fields. Meanwhile, efforts should be made to deepen the educational reform and promote the qualification-oriented education in an all-around way. Students should be encouraged to foster a spirit of innovation and develop practical abilities. We have gained widespread social and economic benefits in the process of adult education and have been awarded many times by the superior education administration. In 1996, it was awarded “excellent correspondence and night university” by the adult education evaluation and inspection team organized by the National Education Administration; in 1997, it was awarded “advanced unit of adult education” by Hunan provincial education committee; in 1999, it was awarded “advanced unit of adult education among forestry universities in China”. In order to better adjust to the requirements of adult education reform, Adult Education College will seize every possible opportunity to promote development.