In 2023, China's inaugural Giant Panda Academy was established through a collaboration between China West Normal University (CWNU) and the Sichuan Provincial Forestry and Grassland Administration. The academy is dedicated to fostering innovative and multifaceted forestry professionals rooted in grassroots-level national parks and wildlife conservation sectors.

The Inauguration Ceremony Scene for the Establishment of the "Giant Panda Academy" [Photo Provided by CWNU]

　　CWNU, renowned for its half-century dedication to wild giant panda research across four generations, has garnered international acclaim for its contributions to giant panda habitat protection and population restoration technologies, earning it the moniker "Panda University." In March 2023, CWNU partnered with CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL (CRI) to sign a strategic cooperation agreement, aiming to establish the Giant Panda Network International Communication Base and disseminate giant panda culture globally.

Hu Jinchu, "The Father of Chinese Giant Pandas," Delivering a Lecture to Graduate Students [Photo Provided by CWNU]

　　Situated within CWNU, the Giant Panda Academy leverages the institution's expertise in giant panda and wildlife research from its School of Life Sciences. The academy focuses on cultivating a talent pool for giant panda conservation research, establishing or applying for field scientific observation and research stations in various protected areas across Sichuan Province. Collaborations with multiple stakeholders have led to the establishment of professional practice bases. The academy plans to offer undergraduate programs in Wildlife Conservation, Nature Reserve Management, National Park Construction and Management, and Ecology. Meanwhile, graduate programs in Wildlife Conservation, Nature Reserve Management, Ecology, and Zoology have already commenced recruitment, with 30 students expected to enroll in Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserve Management and another 30 in Ecology this fall.

　　The Giant Panda Academy contributes to Sichuan Province's natural conservation efforts and national ecological civilization development. Transitioning from a focus on giant panda species protection to ecosystem and ecological function conservation, it aims to preserve valuable natural heritage for future generations.