Nanchang University in Central China (File photo)

Two universities fight for same abbreviation

This summer is seeing a lot of battles between China's top universities. Peking University and Tsinghua University just aired an ugly enrollment feud on social media. And now comes the rivalry for a good abbreviation between Nanjing University and Nanchang University.

Nanchang University in Central China's Jiangxi province announced at the end of June that its official abbreviation in Chinese would be "Nanda" (Nan is the first word in Chinese for Nanchang and da is the first word in Chinese for university), according to its charter, approved by the provincial education bureau.

This claim triggered dissatisfaction among the faculty and students at Nanjing University in East China's Jiangsu province, who say that the Nanjing University Charter approved by the Ministry of Education in December 2014 designated "Nanda" as the abbreviation for this university.

Nanjing University on Thursday said that it has voiced concern over the matter to the Ministry of Education and Jiangxi provincial education bureau.

The Ministry of Education said Saturday that Nanchang University Charter has not been placed on record with the ministry and it hopes the two universities can settle the issue through discussion.

The Jiangxi provincial education department said it is working out a solution to the issue.

There are no regulations on how a university should designate its abbreviation, said Professor Lao Kaisheng of Capital Normal University.