Officials announce plans for 16 new top universities

In an ambitious blueprint, Chinese officials have announced intentions to set up 16 top universities by 2030, spreading across several provincial regions outside Beijing and Shanghai, where a number of famous universities are already situated, reports China.org.cn.

According to data collected by researcher Yu Lujiang from Tongji University, some 21 provincial regions have published five- to ten-year blueprints on higher education. Ten universities will be rated ‘world-class’ by 2020, and the figure will rise to 16 by 2030, Caixin reported.

More than 110 ‘high-level’ universities will be established in those regions, according to the blueprints. Some 11 provincial regions have also come up with financial support measures, with the total amount raised close to CNY40 billion (US$5.8 billion), according to Yu. Shandong province said it would raise up to CNY5 billion, while Hubei province pledged an annual investment of CNY1 billion to CNY2 billion.
Full report on the China.org.cn site