2016年CRI Qingdao Plans to Increase Public Institutions of Higher Education（在线收听）

The Qingdao city in east China's Shandong province has recently stepped up its effort in building facilities for some prestigious public institutions of higher education.

Fudan University took the lead in opening a research institute in Qingdao. Afterwards, a number of other universities at home and abroad followed the trend.

Shen Ting has the story.

Reporter: The recent launch of a research institute in Qingdao is an unprecedented move by the prestigious Shanghai-based Fudan University which had never opened a branch in northern China since its establishment.

Ge Junbo is in charge of the newly opened research institute in Qingdao.

"The Fudan University has moved its key laboratories known for its strength in education, Sci-tech, medical care and the arts to this institute."

Fudan University is not alone; Shandong University, headquartered in Jinan city, also opened their Qingdao campus, which offers undergraduate and graduate courses.

Zhang Rong is the president of Shandong University.

"We moved six colleges and eight research institutions from Jinan to Qingdao, which is believed to help foster development of our Qingdao campus."

Earlier this year, the Qingdao municipal government has enacted a new policy to make the city more appealing for high quality post-secondary education institutes looking to branch out.

By 2020, it plans to increase the number of higher-education institutions from the current 25 to more than 50.

Under these preferential policies, 13 domestic universities and the educational institutions jointly run by Chinese and foreign universities, have also agreed to launch satellite campuses in Qingdao.

Since Qingdao is a coastal city, these campuses would dedicate themselves to subjects related to oceanic development, ocean science, as well as information technology, new energy, and railway transportation.

Liu Pengzhao is a senior official with the Qingdao Education Bureau.

"Qingdao's taking big steps in increasing the number of higher-education institutions and building of a talent pool. In turn, this will strengthen the capabilities in scientific research and development as well as the service sector. It is expected to give the city new vigor in boosting the economy."

In a bid to help meet the demand for developing local industries, the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics has opened a branch in Qingdao, offering postgraduate education in area of wealth management.

These courses were set up as a result of the opening of Qingdao financial pilot zone for wealth management in 2014.

Jiang Hui, executive director of this postgraduate education center, explains:

"We hope to make trees into a forest. During the course, we plan to lead colleges and businesses in their training of talented personnel who may later contribute to making the Qingdao financial system more vigorous."

With the arrival of colleges and higher-learning institutions, Qingdao is being injected with new vigor in economic development.

Li Guangquan is an associate professor with the local party schools affiliated with Qingdao municipal government.

"The incoming of colleges and capable personnels to Qingdao brings about new industries. We will benefit from these newly emerging industries that undergo the rapid expansion in a steady pace. Also, new job opportunities will consistently increase the earnings of local citizens."

The statistics from a report by the Qingdao Radio Station shows the launch of new colleges and educational institutions has, to date, attracted 32 top-level academicians in China and around 300 outstanding technical staffs from elsewhere to work in Qingdao.

This talent pool bears the expectation of empowering Qingdao with a stronger economy and leading the local citizens to a better life.

For CRI, I'm Shen Ting.