Beijing Normal University School of Mathematical Sciences Adopts MATLAB

MATLAB Supports Teaching Curriculum and Student Teams in National Mathematical Modeling Contest.

MathWorks today announced that Beijing Normal University (BNU) College of Mathematical Sciences has adopted the MATLAB product family for its course curriculum. BNU was recently cited in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings as being among the world’s premier educational institutions. BNU’s College of Mathematical Sciences is China’s first math school to provide faculty, staff, and students with school-wide access to the MATLAB product family.

The school-wide license includes MATLAB plus 20 additional products for parallel computing, test and measurement, data analysis, signal and image processing, symbolic math, and optimization. To support the adoption of MATLAB in the curriculum, the BNU faculty has developed a range of courses that incorporate MATLAB, including Math Modeling, Wavelet Analysis, and Image Processing with Computers. The math modeling course, for example, teaches students to solve practical problems using mathematical models and MATLAB.

“As part of our mission to deliver an internationally reputable mathematical program, we seek to include current technologies and industry best practices in our curriculum,” said Dean Bao Jiguang, BNU. “MATLAB based courses combined with easy access to MATLAB will strengthen our students’ abilities to solve real-world problems. Our curriculum will ensure our students are well-prepared in these tools upon graduation.”

The school-wide adoption of MATLAB also supports BNU’s participation in the Contemporary Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling (CUMCM), a national mathematical challenge held annually. CUMCM engages students in the study of mathematics as they solve problems and experiments with mathematical modeling. BNU is part of CUMCM’s organizing committee and sends 40 teams to the national competition. All BNU teams use MATLAB to improve their practical knowledge of mathematics, mathematical modeling, and math software used by mathematicians in academia and industry. Two BNU teams placed second nationally in 2010.

“Today’s job market in mathematics and engineering is highly competitive, and employers seek out job candidates who understand how to problem-solve using mathematical modeling tools and approaches,” said Jim Tung, MathWorks Fellow. “By adopting MATLAB into its curriculum and providing school-wide access to the MATLAB product family, BNU is empowering students with a significant advantage as they enter the job market after graduation.”