China’s State Council and Communist Party Central Committee recently released plans to transform the southern city of Shenzhen into a ‘national model of high-quality development’ by establishing it as a pilot demonstration zone.

The document sets out ambitious plans to develop Shenzhen over the course of the next 25 years, with the eventual vision for the city to become “one of the top cosmopolis in the world and a global pacesetter with outstanding competitiveness, innovative capacity and influence”.

Businesses within the pilot demonstration zone will be subject to preferential policies that will allow:

• foreign individuals with permanent residency status in China to establish sci-tech companies and legally represent scientific research organisations in the zone
• greater financial connectivity with the Greater Bay Area
• ‘privileges’ related to renminbi internationalisation

The plan also states that support will be given to promote emerging industries of strategic importance, with specific mentions of the intelligent economy, healthcare, digital currency and innovations such as mobile payment.

Education is specifically mentioned in the report which states that Shenzhen will lead the reform of all levels of education including running high standard pre-schools, expanding the scale of primary and secondary education, popularising high school education and fully implementing the autonomy of colleges and universities as well as accelerating the development of first class universities and disciplines.

The plan also states that Shenzhen will establish a maritime university and national deep-sea research centre.

Analysis by Fraser Deas, Head of Education Services, British Council International Education Services

The latest announcement of plans for Shenzhen follow on from announcements earlier in the year for the development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and outline an ambition for Shenzhen to become a ‘core engine’ of the GBA.

From a UK higher education perspective, the plan offers a clear steer as to the priority subject areas that universities and R&D companies in Shenzhen will be prioritizing in the coming years and further indication that the Double First-Class project remains a priority policy for China.

At this stage it is unclear what the full implementation of autonomy for colleges and universities will look like in reality, but it may allow UK universities and colleges more freedom to explore new partnership and collaboration opportunities in Shenzhen.

 Sources

1. State Council - Opinions of the State Council on Supporting Shenzhen's Pilot Demonstration Zone of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (in Chinese): http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2019-08/18/content_5422183.htm
2. Xinhua - China to build Shenzhen into socialist demonstration area (in English): http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/18/c_138318854.htm