Shandong Jiaotong University is a full-time undergraduate institution known for its specialization in cultivating comprehensive transportation talent. It is a designated key institution for the development of application-oriented talent in Shandong Province and is jointly governed by the Shandong Provincial Government and the Ministry of Transport of China.

Founded in 1956, the university has evolved over 67 years into a distinctive institution that emphasizes engineering, supported by management and science disciplines. It is dedicated to training highly skilled professionals in the transportation sector who possess patriotism, a global perspective, innovation, and a strong practical spirit. The university has produced over 310,000 graduates and trained numerous managerial and technical professionals for the transportation industry.

The university is located in the historic cultural city of Jinan, with campuses in both Jinan and Weihai. It has four main campuses: Changqing, Wuyingshan, East Campus in Jinan, and Weihai Campus. Additionally, there are independent research institutes in Linyi and Weihai. The university currently enrolls over 22,000 full-time undergraduate students, more than 800 graduate students, and over 60 international students. It has a faculty of nearly 1,900, with about 600 holding senior professional titles, over 530 with doctoral degrees, and nearly 900 with master's degrees. There are also over 200 graduate supervisors. The university boasts five nationally recognized talents and 30 provincial and ministerial-level talents, including Taishan Scholars, Taishan Industry Leaders, and young and middle-aged experts with outstanding contributions in Shandong Province. Furthermore, the university has three "Huang Danian-style" teaching teams and 19 youth innovation teams under the Shandong Provincial Development Plan.

Shandong Jiaotong University maintains an open approach to education, actively engaging in international cooperation and exchanges. It aims to cultivate versatile talents with global perspectives and an understanding of international regulations. The university has established partnerships with over 50 universities in nearly 20 countries, including Russia, Belarus, the United Kingdom, and Germany, fostering faculty and student exchanges and research collaborations. The university is also committed to international student education, having enrolled nearly 1,000 students from over 50 countries. In support of China’s "Belt and Road" initiative, it has strengthened cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road. Notably, the university partnered with Don State Technical University in Russia to establish Shandong’s first Sino-Russian non-independent cooperative education institution, Don River College. The university has also expanded its international presence by establishing the Shandong Jiaotong-Kon Kaen University in Thailand and the Sino-Russian Transportation Education Institute in Irkutsk, Russia.