Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE; simplified Chinese: 中央财经大学; traditional Chinese: 中央財經大學; pinyin: zhōngyāng cáijīng dàxué), colloquially known in Chinese as Zhongcai （中财） or Yangcai (央财) and formerly as the Central Institute of Finance and Economics, is a university in Beijing, China. It is a Project 211 university which receives support from the Chinese central government. The Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE) was founded in 1949, shortly after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the first university of finance and economics created by the China central government. Originally named the Central Institute of Taxation, it was the first university of finance and economics created by the Chinese central government. In 1996, the Institute was given its current name. As of 2008, there are more than 15,000 students registered at CUFE, including 8,000 full-time students. CUFE has four campuses and operates 38 correspondence centers in 18 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across China.