The tropical island of Hainan in Wenchang county has opened its doors to foreign institutions. Hainan is a coastal tourist spot and is home to the space station. Now, a Russian technical university is building a 55-hectare campus on the island, according to South China Morning Post.
The campus will be built by the National Research University Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI). It was in March when the Hainan Daily struck an agreement with MPEI to set up a local campus. This shows the deepening bond between Russia and China amid the rising tensions with the US.
Details about where the campus will be constructed remain under wraps.
Pursuing Other Schools
The construction is Hainan's push to boost its education sector by attracting foreign universities with a focus on science, technology, agriculture, or medicine. Currently, the provincial education department is pursuing similar deals with Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and École hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland.
The push to pursue overseas institutions as part of its free-trade agreement, is an exception in China, where most local governments reduce foreign influence in the education sector.
MPEI
MPEI is well-known for its power engineering research. Last year, MPEI got an approval from China's Ministry of Education to set up a joint school with Henan University of Science and Technology in Luoyang city in western Henan province.
CABR's architecture design arm won the bid for MPEI's Hainan project and plans to present a campus design that will combine the tropical ecosystem of the island and the temperament of the Russian university.
In addition, Wenchang, which is home to China's fourth spaceport, is also planning to partner with Chinese aerospace universities to construct graduate schools and training bases. In fact, the county has started talks with overseas institutes.
China Under Growing Pressure To Boost Its Technological Competitiveness
China has the fastest growing economy but the US has enjoyed the largest share of patent filings in the past decade. This has made China's leadership see technological innovation as a key to their economic survival.
As China's scientific prowess grows, it is under pressure to be seen not just as a producer of low-cost goods but also as a leader in technological development. The country's space program is a critical aspect of its development.
The goal for Chinese cities like Hainan is to spur technological competitiveness and innovation. Later, this could lead to the establishment of local industries and commercial applications. This will be achieved through cooperation between local governments and overseas educational institutions.
Many international universities are interested in developing a presence in Hainan and other key R&D locations in China.
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Written by April Fowell
