According to ‘Regulation of Undergraduate Major Setting in Institute of Higher Education (1999)’, Ministry of Education decided to establish the 3rd discipline development and major setting expert committee Ministry of Education (Expert Committee). CHEN Jining, Standing vice president of Tsinghua University,and CHEN Jian, alumni of SOE, president of Jiangnan University were elected as vice chairmen of the committee.

  Expert Committee was set up to enhance the discipline development and major setting work, aiming at improving the scientific management of major setting and democratization level. Members of expert committee were appointed by Ministry of Education, termed four years.