Xiamen University included in top-grade university plan

A photo shows the unique buildings in Xiamen University in Fujian province. [Photo/ news.xmu.edu.cn]

Xiamen University has been included in a high-profile Chinese government plan to foster a group of world-class higher-education institutions in China, officials announced recently.

The plan is being launched by China's Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission.

Xiamen University's chemistry, marine science, biology, ecology and statistics departments will all be included in the plan, according to the announcement.

The plan aims to turn 42 universities, including Peking University and Tsinghua University, into world-class centers of research and learning, and also nurture world-class departments at 95 universities.

The "double world-class" plan was approved by a special working group for deepening reform inside China's national government in 2016. It is designed to give a new impetus to the development of China's higher education sector.

The policy is expected to tackle problems such as redundant construction and a lack of competition that were brought about by previous education reforms, such as the "985" and "211" programs.

The "211" project, launched in 1993, aimed to build 100 universities for the 21st century. Project "985" was named when then-president Jiang Zemin gave a speech in May 1998, and called for China to build a number of key universities.

A photo taken on Sept 4 shows Xiamen University illuminated at night. The university is located in the coastal city of Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo by Jiang Kehong/Xinhua]