To implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, to serve the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), to expand and deepen opening up in education in an active and flexible way, and to support and regulate the establishment of educational institutions by overseas higher education institutions in the Hainan FTP, the Ministry of Education and the People’s Government of Hainan Province have formulated the Interim Provisions on Overseas Higher Education Institutions Running Schools in the Hainan Free Trade Port (hereinafter referred to as the “Provisions”).

The Provisions systematically lays out the basic rules for overseas higher education institutions running schools in the Hainan FTP in accordance with the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Hainan Free Trade Port and the Overall Plan for the Construction of Hainan Free Trade Port issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

Overseas high-level universities and vocational colleges establish science, engineering, agriculture and medicine schools or campuses in the Hainan FTP, experimenting with a new school-running model in the Hainan FTP

The Provisions focuses on fostering innovation in school-running models. Allowing overseas higher education institutions to establishing and operating educational institutions in the Hainan FTP is a major initiative to advance reform and innovation, unswervingly open up wider to the world, and support the establishment of a high-quality education system through high-standard opening up in education. The Provisions stipulates that overseas high-level universities and vocational colleges are allowed to set up science, engineering, agriculture and medical schools or campuses in the Hainan FTP, experimenting with a new mode of school-running in the Hainan FTP. More independent and flexible policies in governance, academic management, teaching staff, fee collection system, and other areas are applied in those educational institutions.

The Provisions focuses on promoting school-running in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Institutional designs are made to guarantee that school-running is based on the rule of law. The Provisions emphasizes that school-running should conform to Chinese laws and the principle of public welfare, and must not jeopardize China’s national sovereignty, security and public interests. School-running institutions, which are a legal person of higher education in China, must be subject to the supervision of Chinese laws. According to the Provisions, school-running institutions are required to offer courses on China’s Constitution, laws, civic virtues, national conditions, and others in accordance with China’s criteria for educational institutions of the same level. The Provisions stipulates that school-running institutions carry out Party and mass activities in accordance with the State’s provisions on Party and mass activities to be carried out by institutions of higher learning.

To establish educational institutions in the Hainan FTP, overseas higher education institutions shall have a good reputation for school-running and a high international reputation

The Provisions focuses on the quality assurance of the school-running. Supporting overseas higher education institutions in establishing high-quality educational institutions in the Hainan FTP is an inherent requirement for moving faster to establish a high-quality education system.

· In terms of access, overseas higher education institutions running schools in the Hainan FTP shall have a good reputation for school-running, a high international reputation, disciplinary advantages in science, engineering, agriculture and medicine, as well as a high employability and professional evaluation for graduates.

· In terms of training, overseas institutions of higher learning shall send or recruit a sufficient number of teachers to teach at the established educational institutions in accordance with the standards for teaching staff not lower than their own standards, encourage school-running institutions to introduce courses and teaching materials that are urgently needed in China and are advanced internationally, and encourage school-running institutions and overseas higher education institutions to exchange students and recognize each other’s credits.

· In terms of supervision, school-running institutions shall establish a quality assurance system, release the related information to the public, submit a report to the competent government department annually, accept the quality assessment organized by the competent government department in accordance with the law to ensure the quality of educational institutions established.

The Provisions shall enter into force on the date of issuance. The Ministry of Education will work with the People’s Government of Hainan Province and other relevant parties to carry out the related work, improve the relevant systems in light of practice and involving situations, promote the high-level opening up of Hainan’s education sector, and cultivate more high-caliber innovative talents with an international vision to contribute to the development of the Hainan FTP.