Two of Shanghai's leading universities are involved in a fierce dispute over alleged poaching of talented students, as competition among universities on the Chinese mainland continues to intensify.

On July 1, the Shanghai-based Fudan University said on its website and micro blog that a teacher from one of Shanghai's universities had pretended to be from Fudan University and tried to persuade students to change their choice to his university.

Fudan University said it has received reports about irregular practices from students and parents from Yunnan, Guangdong and Hubei provinces and Ningxia Hui autonomous region. The university has criticized these practices.

Although the statement did not mention the name of the university, netizens said it alluded to Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University denied this and responded on its official micro blog that "the related media reports hurt the university's reputation badly", and that it "reserves the right to claim the legal responsibilities".

So far, discussions and disputes about the two prestigious universities continue online.

(China Daily 07/04/2011 page4)