Danzhou city improves academic disciplines to drive development

Danzhou city in South China's Hainan province is set to prioritize academic discipline construction to drive industrial development, said Yang Yongfei, director of education bureau of Danzhou city, at a press conference held in Yangpu Economic Development Zone on Friday.

Efforts are underway to elevate the status of the Yangpu Senior Technician School to the Hainan Western Technician College and accelerate the construction progress of the permanent campus of Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences.

These initiatives aim to facilitate the establishment of more high-level universities and research institutions in the vicinity of Xinying Bay, the core area of the Danzhou-Yangpu economic circle. The strategic focus is on aligning educational and research institutions with the specific needs of local industries, with a particular emphasis on disciplines like petrochemical new materials, logistics services, economic engineering and the digital economy. By deepening the integration of industry and education, the goal is to provide robust talent support for the advancement of local industrial development in the region.

In a move to bolster industrial development in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, the Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences is intensifying collaboration with German enterprises. This strategic partnership aims to attract German-funded companies to establish a presence in the region, injecting new energy into the local economy.

Construction has commenced on the permanent campus of Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, marking the first independent overseas university project in China. In September 2023, the university offered its inaugural undergraduate programs in Computer Science and Digital Technologies. Currently situated in the Linshui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone as a temporary location, plans are in place for the institution to shift to its permanent campus in Danzhou in September 2025.

The university has embraced the German university education system and adopted the "work-integrated" education model, according to Juergen Kretschmann, president of Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences. "Our main goal is to nurture innovative and highly skilled individuals, with a special focus on preparing them for the demands of the industry," he said.

"We have established strategic partnerships with leading enterprises like Crazy Sports and China Unicom Hainan Branch to provide extensive practical training opportunities for students," he added.

This year the university plans to enroll 280 students from 17 provinces and municipalities across China.