On October 18, the Nanchang Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangxi Province publicly tried the case of Zhang Guang, former Vice President and a member of the Party Committee at Beihang University, who has been accused of accepting bribes.
Zhang Guang, born in October 1973 in Yichun, Heilongjiang, was reportedly under investigation since August 2023, and was expelled from the Party and his public office in January of this year. Allegations against him suggest he misused public assets, leveraging university resources for personal gain. He is said to have exploited his official position to benefit others in areas such as asset management, student admissions, and job placements, while illegally accepting substantial sums of money.
According to the prosecution by the Nanchang People’s Procuratorate, from 2008 to 2022, Zhang took advantage of his various roles—including Secretary of the Youth League Committee, Director of the Continuing Education College, Assistant President, and positions within the original Beihang Asset Management Company—to offer illegal assistance in business operations, admissions, job placements, and promotions. It is alleged that he received illicit payments totaling over 21.2 million yuan.
During the trial, Zhang offered a final statement, expressing both remorse and acceptance of his guilt. The court has announced that it will adjourn and deliver its verdict at a later date.
Beihang University, founded in 1952 and initially named Beijing Aviation Institute, has been a key institution in China’s development of higher education, officially changing its name to Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1988. Since then, it has continuously been a significant focus of national educational initiatives.
