During a press conference on 27 December the Ministry of Education (MoE) outlined new actions to promote higher education in central and western China. According to the MoE, the plan highlights the following action points:

• Increase recruitment in the region at the master’s degree level
• Set up higher education innovation hubs in northwest, southwest and central regions, formats including research bases on natural science, humanities and social science, key science labs, and research institutes on rural revitalization.
• Promote informatization within regional HEIs, including distributing MOOC resources and strengthening international collaboration through Internet+ Education innovation. Set up demonstration college and international joint labs.
• Develop a collaboration platform to connect HEIs across eastern, central and western regions. The MoE will also enhance its collaboration with provincial-level authorities in the region to jointly supervise HEIs.  
• Encourage collaboration in teaching development between eastern and western regions, cultivate and improve the quality of teaching staff through a combination of online and offline approaches and virtual research offices.

Analysis

This plan reflects the MoE’s ongoing goal to increase HE opportunities in the less-developed central and western parts of the country. During the period of the 13^th five-year plan (2016-2020), development of HEIs in the central and western regions was improved with 39 universities joining the list of institutions jointly supervised by provincial and national authorities, as well as investing more than RMB 50 billion (£5.8 billion) in HE across the region. In terms of subject optimization, central and western regions are developing some specialized subjects around new engineering, new medical science, new agriculture etc. to support local development.

Based on the MoE’s continuing focus on the region, it is foreseeable that opportunity will be available for international collaboration in these leading subjects and joint labs. UK institutions can also consider to exchange resources for teacher training and course development through virtual approach as online education will be promoted to improve the local education quality. The British Council will continue to monitor developments in the region and share details on any future announcements.

Source:

http://www.moe.gov.cn/fbh/live/2021/53921/mtbd/202112/t20211227_590550.html

http://www.moe.gov.cn/fbh/live/2021/53921/mtbd/202112/t20211228_590682.html