By He Huifeng
As China鈥檚 university admissions season kicks off, some newly established, tycoon-funded universities are attracting national attention as they enrol their first undergraduate students.
Fuyao University of Science and Technology (FYUST) founded in Fuzhou, Fujian province, by glass tycoon Cao Dewang, and Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), founded in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, by semiconductor magnate Yu Renrong, will welcome their first undergraduates this summer.
They are part of a new form of philanthropic endeavour among Chinese entrepreneurs that is focused on promoting China鈥檚 national strategy of 鈥渟cientific self-reliance鈥 through education.
Industry observers and parents predict that the research-focused institutions may soon rival top public universities in selectivity. Though still trailing elite institutions such as Beijing鈥檚 Tsinghua and Peking universities, their appeal is becoming apparent.
鈥淭hese founders are some of the most high-profile entrepreneurs and billionaires in China right now, so it鈥檚 no surprise that parents and students are paying close attention,鈥 said Kent Cai, founder of Zhejiang Newway, an international education consultancy in Zhejiang. 鈥淢any are wondering whether they should be among the first to take the plunge.
鈥淲ith only a few dozen spots available, the admission scores are expected to be competitive.鈥
Simon Zhao, an associate dean at Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, said: 鈥淭he first few cohorts must benefit from being pioneers, but long-term success depends on whether they can consistently cultivate high-level research talent at scale.鈥
China has approved the establishment of several similar universities in key economic hubs in recent years, including Westlake University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology and Greater Bay University in Dongguan, both in Guangdong province. They all emphasise research core fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor chips and intelligent manufacturing.
FYUST will enrol 50 undergraduate students and offer majors in computer science, intelligent manufacturing, vehicle engineering and materials science 鈥 fields closely aligned with national strategic priorities.
EIT aims to recruit around 70 undergraduate students, focusing on AI, integrated circuits, intelligent manufacturing and mathematics.
Both universities tout global faculty, cutting-edge laboratories and generous financial aid. FYUST will charge just 5,460 yuan (US$762) in annual tuition fees, while EIT鈥檚 inaugural students will receive full scholarships valued at 96,000 yuan.
At EIT鈥檚 recent open day, assistant professor Huang Yuanlong said that undergraduate students could join top Chinese research teams as soon as they enrol. 鈥淭he batteries used in future electric vehicles may come from our solid-state battery lab,鈥 he said.
The new wave of billionaire-backed education initiatives is a direct response to China鈥檚 pressing demand for talent in critical technological fields.
The Communist Party mouthpiece People鈥檚 Daily reported in March that the domestic semiconductor industry faces a talent shortfall of 300,000 people. Data from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security indicates a gap of over 5 million AI professionals, with a supply-to-demand ratio of just 1:10.
Still, concerns linger. Some families remain wary of careers outside the public sector, and experts caution that it will take time for new universities to gain social recognition and prove their long-term sustainability.
It will take time to earn broad social recognition
Simon Zhao, associate dean
鈥淭hese private universities are suited for students from well-off families who are truly committed to research,鈥 said Levi Tan from southern China鈥檚 Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
His nephew opted for a public university in Shenzhen, despite scoring high enough in the national college entrance exam to be admitted to one of the new universities. 鈥淔or a big number of Chinese families whose children aim to become civil servants or work in state-owned enterprises, these schools still carry uncertainty,鈥 Tan said.
Zhao said that because the newly established universities had yet to produce any graduates, their quality was yet to be proved, adding that 鈥渋t will take time to earn broad social recognition.鈥
He said the founders鈥 willingness and capacity for sustained investment would be crucial to the universities鈥 future: 鈥淭here鈥檚 still a long way to go for the investors.鈥
The rise of private universities comes as China鈥檚 higher education sector faces demographic headwinds.
This year鈥檚 national college entrance exam had 13.35 million registrants, down from a record 13.42 million last year and the first decline in nearly eight years. But only 9.54 million births were recorded last year, pointing to empty lecture theatres down the track.
The full impact of the demographic decline on university admissions across the country is expected to be felt from around 2037.
Against that backdrop, the rise of institutions like FYUST and EIT is more than just a personal experiment by the tycoons, Zhao said, because its offers a revealing case study of China鈥檚 higher education reform.
But he said that whether such universities can blaze a new trail for private education and produce the next generation of technology leaders remains to be seen.