Central South Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. According to official website of Central South University, Central South University was formed by the merger of Hunan Medical University, Changsha Railway Institute and Central South University of Technology in April 2000. The former Central South University of Technology was formerly known as Central South Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, founded in 1952, and the former Changsha Railway Institute was formerly known as Central South Institute of Architecture and Engineering, founded in 1953. The main disciplines of the two universities can be traced back to the course of Mining and Road in Hunan Higher Institute of Technology founded by 1903.