Liaoning Normal University (LNU; simplified Chinese: 辽宁 师范 大学; pinyin: Liáoníng shīfàn dàxué) is a teacher training university in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China under the provincial government. Established in 1951 the university is primarily responsible for educating teachers to teach in high schools around the province, though non-teacher training courses are offered. Liaoning Normal University was established in August 1951, as part of the newly founded People’s Republic of China’s drive to reform the teacher training system. Under the new shifan (师范) system certain institutions of further and higher education were established with the role of training future teachers. Financial incentives (such as tuition waivers, stipends and fellowships) were offered to encourage students to study at these institutions. The normal universities comprised the highest point of this reformed system, and were the only institutions from which senior high school teachers could graduate. Liaoning Normal University was one of the two normal universities (along with Shenyang Normal University, founded in the same year) founded in Liaoning province.