Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU; Chinese: 上海交通大学) is a major research university in Shanghai. Established in 1896 as Nanyang Public School by an imperial edict issued by the Guangxu Emperor, it has been referred to as "The MIT of the East" since the 1930s. It is renowned as one of the oldest, most prestigious and selective universities in China. Shanghai Jiao Tong is a C9 League university and a Chinese Ministry of Education Class A Double First Class University.