The origin of the university lies in the "Shenyang Light Industry Vocational School" () which was founded in 1950. For that purpose, the government of the Northeast Region choose to put the premises of the "Shenyang Wenhui Middle School" (), a catholic school operating since 1876, to new use. Since being run by the Christian Church meant that the Wenhui School had soon to close, an agreement was reached beforehand in order to ensure the transition of both the teaching staff and the students. In accordance with the economic needs of the time, chemistry, paper making and rubber production made up the core curriculum for the higher education branch, while the former middle school continued its operation under the auspices of this new institution. The first three vocational classes enrolled in October 1950, numbering 128 students in total.