Anhui University of Finance and Economics (AUFE) is a multi-disciplinary university of finance and economics which offers degrees on economics, management, law, history, literature, science and engineering. As a key university in Anhui province, it is not only one of the first group of universities in China conferringbachelor’s degree, but also one of the second group of universities with the right to grant master’s degree. Formerly known as Anhui Finance and Trade College, it was erected in Hefei of Anhui province in May 1959. At present, the university stands on Bengbu, the central city of Huaihe River Basin and an important city of industry and commerce in northern Anhui province. The school was successively affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Internal Trade and the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (ACFSMC). Since February 2000, the university has been jointly financed by the central and the local governments, mainly being administered by the government in Anhui province. In May 2004, approved by the Ministry of Education of China, the university was formally renamed Anhui University of Finance and Economics. Now, it is the only multi-disciplinary university of finance and economics in Anhui province.

The Rural Economic and Social Development Research of AUFE, the predecessor of the China Cooperative Research Institute of AUFE, was formally established in January 2005 with two research bodies, namely the Cooperative Economic Research Center and the Research Center for Agriculture, Rural Areas and Famers. Thanks to the institutional adjustment in July 2010, it has three research bodies, namely the Cooperative Economic Research Center, the Research Center for Agriculture, Rural Areas and Famers and the Cotton Engineering Research Institute. In addition, it is also the supporting unit of the Master’s Program of Agricultural Economic Management.

In order to further highlight the characteristics, and to meet the needs of the discipline construction and development, the Rural Economic and Social Development Research Institute of AUFE was renamed as China Cooperative Research Institute of AUFE. At present, there are two subsidiary organs of the institute---the Research Institute of Agriculture, Rural Areas and Famers and the Cotton Engineering Research Institute. Besides, it sets up eight subsidiary studios involving Cooperative Theory and Policy Studio, New Net Engineering and Circulation Cooperation Studio, Cotton Industry Development Studio, Cooperative Finance Studio, Farmer Professional Cooperative Studio, Social Cooperative Studio, Cooperative Governance Studio, Cooperative Legal System Studio, College Office and College Reference Room.  

Founded in 1982, the Cooperative Economic Research Institute of Anhui Finance and Trade College was renamed as Cooperative Economic Research Center in 1998. As a specialized body of research, the center promotes the discipline construction through cooperative economic research and advances the development of the college through discipline construction, which was spoken highly of by the expert evaluation panel of the Ministry of Education in 2001. Through years of efforts, the Cooperative Economic Research Center has become a key research base on humanities and social science in Anhui province, a cooperative economics research and training base of ACFSMC and the key experimental base of China Cooperative Economic Association.

Since its establishment for more than 20 years, the Cooperative Economic Research Center has made a lot of achievements in researching and teaching. The research center has presided over more than 100 subjects above provincial level and has published more than 50 books and over 2000 papers. Furthermore, the research center has edited and published relatively complete series of textbooks on cooperative economics. Also, it has won the rewards many times. At present, as one of the strongest cooperative economic research bases in China, it is making an important contribution to the educational development and the scientific research of China’s cooperative economy.

The Cotton Engineering Research Institute was founded in July 2000, on the basis of the former department of cotton engineering of Anhui Finance and Trade College. Currently, as the group member and director unit of China Cotton Association, the research center is the only nationwide institute engaged in the teaching and researching of the processing and inspection of cotton. Besides, it boasts the resources and advantages of theoretical research and talent training in the field of cotton engineering. In order to better serve China’s cotton industry, the federation agreed to set up Cotton Engineering Research and Training Base of ACFSMC on January 4^th, 2007.

Since its establishment in July 2000, the Cotton Engineering Research Institute mainly provides scientific research development, technical training, skill appraisal and other services for the cotton-related industries in China. It has presided over a number of national, provincial and ministerial research projects and other projects entrusted by enterprises and institutions. Moreover, it has developed the Rapid Balancing Device for Cotton Samples, the Rapid Detection Instrument for Cotton Fiber Length, the Intelligent Single-fiber Electronic Strength Instrument, the Temperature and Humidity Monitoring System for Seed Cotton, the Temperature and Humidity Monitoring System for Storage Warehouses and other instruments and equipment. Apart from presiding over the drafting of National Professional Standards for Cotton Inspectors, the research center also edited and published professional books such as Theory and Practice of Cotton Fiber Inspection, New Technology and Equipment for Cotton Processing, Cotton Inspectors, etc. Up to now, the training courses at different levels have been jointly held for cotton professionals with China Cotton Association, China Cotton Network, China Cotton Reserve Management Corporation, the cotton and linen enterprises in relevant provinces and cities and so on, receiving good results and praise.

The Specific Types of Occupational Skill Assessment Station for national supply and marketing cooperatives industry helped built by the Cotton Engineering Research Institute mainly conducts the technical grading and certifying for workers who are engaged in cotton processing, cotton inspection, cotton management, etc. The workers passing the identification examination are available to vocational qualification certificates of corresponding levels uniformly conferred by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The research center was awarded the Advanced Unit of Developing Special Professional Skills by ACFSMC in June 2005.

As the predecessor of the Research Institute focusing on studies and research in agriculture, rural areas and famers, the Research Center for Agriculture, Rural Areas and Farmers was founded in January 2005. And as a non-profit academic research institution focusing on the agriculture, rural areas and farmers in China, the research center is affiliated to the Rural Economic and Social Development Research Institute of AUFE. Since its foundation, the research center considers the integration of scientific research resources of the school as the basic means and takes agricultural economic theory and agricultural policy, rural regional sustainable development, the utilization and development of rural human resource, and rural public management as its research basis. Catering to the needs of local economic development, the research institute has always been focusing on those subjects such as the construction of modern agriculture, the development of rural economy, the increase of farmers’ income and so on, conducting in-depth researches on domestic agriculture, rural areas and farmers. What’s more, the research center has been improving its research conditions and strengthening the construction of materials and databases in the field of Anhui agricultural policy and rural development. And information and intelligence resources are shared with relevant government departments, universities and scientific research institutes inside and outside the province, and a research platform on agricultural, rural areas and farmers was built in Anhui province.

Facing with the new situation, all the staff of the China Cooperative Research Institute are meeting new opportunities and challenges with full enthusiasm and high morale, sincerely hoping more communication and cooperation with all walks of life.