National ranking of Nanjing Southeast University 19. Southeast University started from Sanjiang Normal School founded by Zhang Zhidong in 1902, and went through Liangjiang Normal School and Nanjing Higher Normal School. 192 1 year, National Southeast University was founded, and 1928 was renamed as National Central University. 1952 colleges and departments in colleges and universities were adjusted, and the arts and sciences of the school moved out. Nanjing Institute of Technology was established in the original site of National Central University, with the former Institute of Technology as the main body. 1988 restored the name of Southeast University. Historically, Wu Jianxiong, the "mother of the atomic bomb", studied at Southeast University, and Li, Xu Beihong and Ma Yinchu all taught at Southeast University.