South China University of Technology (SCUT; simplified Chinese: 华南理工大学; traditional Chinese: 華南理工大學; pinyin: Huánán Lǐgōng Dàxué) is a Chinese university located in Guangzhou, capital of the Guangdong province. In 1999, SCUT ranked No. 23 among Asia's Best Universities by Asiaweek. Formerly known as South China Institute of Technology, it was established in 1952, through a reorganization process that unified the engineering schools and departments of major universities in South China, including the former Zhongshan University, Lingnan University, South China Joint University, and 4 others. In 1960, it was selected as one of 33 National Key Universities, under the direct administration of the Chinese Ministry of Education. The University was renamed as South China University of Technology in 1988. South China University of Technology (SCUT) is one of China's key universities operating under the direct administration of the State Ministry of Education. The university, which has a total area of 294 hectares, is situated in Guangzhou, a southern metropolis in China. The university has two campuses: The North Campus and the South Campus.