School of Mathematical Sciences (SMS) was founded in 1955. So far SMS has a doctor program in mathematics first-level discipline, which includes 5 doctor programs in mathematics second-level disciplines, and a mobile postdoctoral research station. Along with the master degree programs in mathematics first-level discipline, SMS forms a complete system of talents cultivation ranging from bachelor, master, doctor to post-doctor.

In the mathematics second-level disciplines of SMS, Fundamental Mathematics is the key discipline of Shandong province from “6th Five-Year Plan” to “9th Five-Year Plan”, the fortified key discipline of the 10th (A), and the key discipline of 11th and 12th. Applied Mathematics is the key discipline of Shandong province from “9th Five-Year Plan” to “11th Five-Year Plan”, and the characteristic key discipline of the 12th. SMS now has a post of part-time professor from “Taishan Scholars” program of Shandong province. In 2016, mathematics first-level discipline was awarded the Top-class Discipline of Shandong Province. Mathematics and Applied Mathematics-a major of SMS-is among the list of the First Top Majors of Shandong Province, and is one of the National Characteristic Majors of China. In recent five years, the undergraduate program in mathematics has successively topped the ranking of colleges and universities of Shandong province.

SMS now has 20 professors and 21 associate professors, with 55 faculty members obtaining the doctorate. In SMS, there are 1 winner of the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of

China, 2 winners of Special Government Allowances of Chinese State Council, 1 National Excellent Teacher, 2 Outstanding Young and Mid-aged Experts of Shandong Province, 1 Germany Humboldt visiting scholar, 6 Young and Mid-aged Core Teachers of Higher Education Institutions of Shandong Province, 5 winners of Youth Science and Technology Award of Shandong Province, and 3 reviewers of Mathematical Reviews.

SMS attaches a great importance to the cultivation of talents. By improving the ambience of teaching and learning for years, SMS has forged a good atmosphere of study and academy, from which students are benefited to improve their literacy with professional knowledge and skills being acquired. According to statistics from 2003 to 2017, SMS had 6,436 graduates of its undergraduate program, among whom 2,649 went to grad schools and the average grad school enrollment rate was up to 41.16%. In recent years, SMS totally won 4 national second prizes, 1 provincial first prize, 45 provincial second and third prizes in China Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) and “Challenge Cup” National College Students Contests. SMS had 1 winner of national first prize, 2 winners of national second prize, 1 winner of national third prize, and 7 winners of provincial first prize in National Teaching Contest for Teachers College Students. SMS won 1 first prize and 8 second prizes in the America MCM. In the Chinese Mathematics Competitions (CMC) sponsored by the Chinese Mathematical Society (CMS), the highest mathematical competition for Chinese college students, SMS won 5 first prizes in the final, and the total number of the prize winners of SMS ranked No.4 across China (the top3 universities were: Peking University, University of Science and Technology of China, and Fudan University). As a result, Qufu Normal University (QFNU) was among the list of 4 universities with four consecutive first prizes of CMC (these 4 universities were: Peking University, Fudan University, Nankai University and Qufu Normal University). Many news media filed reports entitled with “QFNU Students Win Four Consecutive First Prizes of CMC”, such as Xinhuanet, People’s Daily, China Daily, IFeng, Qilu Evening News, Sina etc., which evoked strong public response.

With much emphasis on fostering graduate students’ innovative competence, SMS has 17 winners of Best Master Thesis of Shandong Province since 2000. And since the year of running the doctor program, SMS has kept the record of winning the award of Best Doctor Dissertation of Shandong Province annually, till now SMS has 8 winners of that. Moreover, SMS graduates have got numerous prizes in Graduates Outstanding Innovative Achievements Prize of Shandong Province and Professional Master Degree Graduates Outstanding Achievements Prize of Shandong Province.

By attaching importance to the academic research, refining the incentive mechanism, and enhancing the innovative awareness of teachers and students, SMS achieves remarkable success. Since 2013, SMS has got nearly 100 scientific research projects, including 20 National Natural Science Foundations, 5 Specialized Research Funds for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education, and 19 Natural Science Foundations of Shandong Province of China etc. SMS has 1 winner of the third prize of Natural Science Award of Shandong Province, and a dozen winners of Outstanding Achievements Prize of Higher Education Institutions of Shandong Province. More than 400 academic papers were published, of which nearly 300 were indexed by SCI, EI and ISTP.

In the past 60 years, with SMS fellows’ efforts of generations, SMS formed a good atmosphere of academic research, teaching and learning. As a result, SMS has cultivated a large number of outstanding talents for both the nation and Shandong province, winning a great public acclaim.