Foreign institutions of higher education, including higher-level universities and vocational colleges independently established abroad or in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, are now allowed to independently set up and run schools in China’s Hainan Free Trade Port according to the Interim Regulation on Overseas Institutions of Higher Education Running Schools in Hainan Free Trade Port jointly issued by the Ministry of Education of the PRC and Hainan’s provincial government on 22 March 2023.

The new regulation permits qualified foreign institutions of higher education to establish independent schools or campuses to offer professional education in science, engineering, agriculture, and medicine within Hainan Free Trade Port, without the need to cooperate with Chinese institutions of higher education.

It is the first time that foreign institutions of higher education are allowed to independently set up and run schools in China’s mainland. Previously, foreign institutions of higher education must cooperate with a Chinese counterpart to set up and run schools in the mainland.

To qualify, foreign institutions of higher education shall meet the following conditions:
(1) Having a good reputation for running a school and a high international reputation.
(2) Having disciplinary advantages in science, engineering, agriculture, and medicine.
(3) Record of graduates having high employment quality and good industry evaluation.

In principle, schools established independently in Hainan Free Trade Port are only allowed to provide undergraduate or higher education in science, engineering, agriculture, and medicine. Vocational education can be provided only when it is really necessary.

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