East China Normal University (ECNU) , was founded in October 1951 in western Shanghai

Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...

, on the campus of Great China University. It is the first Normal University founded after the establishment of the People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

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In 1951, East China Normal University (ECNU) was founded. It was principally based on the former Great China University and Kwang Hua University.

In addition, some departments and staff from the following universities were also incorporated into the then newly formed East China (Normal) University:

• Datong University
  Datong University
  Shanxi Datong University is a university in Datong, Shanxi, China. It used to be a 2-year normal school to prepare teachers for elementary schools.-External links:...
  
  
• East Asia Physical Education College
• Fudan University
  Fudan University
  Fudan University , located in Shanghai, is one of the oldest and most selective universities in China, and is a member of the C9 League. Its institutional predecessor was founded in 1905, shortly before the end of China's imperial Qing dynasty...
  
  
• Hujiang University
• St. John's University
  Saint John's University, Shanghai
  St. John's University was an Anglican university located in Shanghai, China. Before the Chinese Civil War it was regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in Shanghai and China...
  
  
• Tongji University
  Tongji University
  Tongji University , colloquially known as Tongji , located in Shanghai, has more than 30,000 students and 8,000 staff members . It offers degree programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels...
  
  
• Zhengdan University
• Zhejiang University
  Zhejiang University
  Zhejiang University , sometimes referred to as Zheda, is a national university in China. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education...
  
  

In 1959, East China Normal University was identified as one of the 16 National Key Universities in China.

In 1972, East China Normal University was renamed Shanghai Normal University, when it merged Shanghai Teachers Institute, Shanghai Education Institute, Shanghai Physical Education Institute, and Shanghai in-Service Teachers Institute.