The National Metallography Skills Competition for College Students was originally a competition for college students jointly initiated by Tsinghua University, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Tianjin University, National University of Defense Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Chongqing University, Southeast University, Central South University, Hunan University, Zhengzhou University, Shanghai Institute of Technology and other universities. The first National Metallographic Skills Competition for College Students was held in University of Science and Technology Beijing in December 2012, and has been held annually since then. In August 2015, the Teaching Steering Committee of Materials Major in Higher Education Institutions of the Ministry of Education issued an official document, deciding to provide specific guidance for the organization of the competition as the organizer. Since then, the National College Students Metallographic Skills Competition has become a national college student competition recognized by the relevant departments of the Ministry of Education