North University of China (NUC; ) is a university based in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China. It was formerly known as North China Institute of Technology from 1993 to 2004. Founded on September 8, 1941 as Taihang Industrial School, and renamed Taiyuan Institute of Machinery in 1958, the university played an important role in the weaponry development and personnel training for the PLA during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. In 2001, senior Party official Bo Yibo wrote the inscription "The First School for People's Ordnance" (人民兵工第一校) at the 60th anniversary of the university. History NUC was formerly known as Taihang Industrial School, founded by the general headquarters of the Eighth Route Army in 1941. The first president was Liu Ding who was in charge of United Front at the time. Early history In 1949: The school was relocated to current address and renamed North China Vocational School of Ordnance (华北兵工职业学校). A few years later the name was changed to Taiyuan Machinery Manufacturing Industry School. In 1958: The school was promoted to a college with the name changed to Taiyuan Institute of Machinery. Amalgamation In 1961: With approval from the State Council and Central Military Commission, the faculty, students, laboratory equipment, library materials of four departments related to conventional weapons (artillery, automatic weapons, ammunition, fuses) from Beijing Industrial College (北京工业学院) were merged into Taiyuan Institute of Machinery. In 1962: Two departments related to conventional weapons (gunpowder, explosives) from Shenyang Institute of Technology (沈阳工学院) were merged into Taiyuan Institute of Machinery. In 1963: Transferred under administration of the National Defense Science, Technology and Industry Committee and became one of the Eight Colleges of Defense Industry at that time. In 1971: Transferred under administration of the 5th Department of Machinery Industry. The institute was temporarily shut down in July of the same year due to Cultural Revolution. In 1993: Renamed North China Institute of Technology In 2004: Renamed North University of China The Eight Colleges of Defense Industry (ca. 1963) Harbin Institute of Technology (哈尔滨工业大学) Beijing Industrial College (北京工业学院). Renamed in 1988 as Beijing Institute of Technology (北京理工大学). Beijing Aviation Institute (北京航空学院). Renamed in 1988 as Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (北京航空航天大学), and renamed (only in English) in 2002 as Beihang University. Shanghai Jiao Tong University (上海交通大学) Northwestern Polytechnical University (西北工业大学) Chengdu Institute of Telecommunications Engineering (成都电讯工程学院). Renamed in 1988 as University of Electronic Science and Technology of China