Founded in 1958,G.I.P.E is the only higher education institution majoring in sports in South China.It offers three main subjects-Physical Education, Literature and Economics-which include 8 specialties such as Physical Education, Sports Training, Human Kinesiology and Science, Sports Sociology, Traditional Sports Education, Sports Correspondence and Modeling, and Sports Economics. In addition, it has been authorized to award Master's Degrees for such majors as Teaching Theory and Methods of Physical Education, Humanities of Sports and Human Kinesiology and Science. It is not only possesses the national base for the training of sports aerobics, the key national research base for sports sociology, and the "Association of Calisthenics and Gymnastics" for the university students of China under the Ministry of Education, but has also been awarded the honor of hosting the National Training School for Teenagers. It is also entitled by the National Sports Bureau to award qualification certificates for referees and athletes of the highest level. The institution, along with nearly 20 well-known guest professors from both home and abroad, has 251 experienced teachers with academic degrees that include 32 professors, 113 associate professors and several highly respected supervisors for PhD candidates. It has a current students population of approximately 5,000, including over 200 national master sportsman and over 400 first-class athlete degree holders. Reputed for its professional level of teaching, training and researching, G.I.P.E has established an exchange program with over 10 universities in the U.S., Australia, Finland, Malaysia and other countries.