NDRC: New campuses of Beijing Jiaotong University and others in Xiong'an expected to open by Sept 2025

People's Financial News, September 22 — On September 22, Li Chao, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), stated at the NDRC's September press conference that the construction of new campuses for "Double First-Class" universities is a matter of great public concern.

According to the deployment requirements of the "15th Five-Year Plan," during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will:

• Orderly expand the enrollment scale of high-quality undergraduate education and the training scale of graduate students
• Support the construction of several new campuses for "Double First-Class" universities

In recent years, through policy funds such as central budget investment and ultra-long-term special government bonds, the NDRC has promoted more than 30 new campuses of "Double First-Class" universities into large-scale construction. These efforts aim to:

• Improve the basic conditions for university operations
• Establish major teaching and research platforms
• Actively respond to the peak of the higher education school-age population
• Support technological self-reliance and independent talent cultivation

During the construction of new campuses, the NDRC will coordinate the integrated development of higher education with employment, industry, and urban development, striving to better meet public expectations while enhancing the supporting role of higher education in high-quality economic and social development.

On one hand, the NDRC will promote the integration of new campus construction into major regional strategies. This involves aligning the distribution of higher education resources with regional functional positioning and development needs. For example, supporting the relocation and new campus construction of Beijing-based universities such as Beijing Jiaotong University, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing Forestry University, and China University of Geosciences (Beijing) to Xiong'an New Area is a key measure to implement the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development strategy. Currently, the construction of these campuses has entered a critical phase and is expected to open for enrollment in September next year.

On the other hand, the NDRC will promote the precise alignment of new campus construction with urban development. This includes coordinating functional facilities such as education and research, residential living, commercial services, and public culture, to better facilitate talent aggregation, work-residence balance, and industry-city integration, achieving mutual promotion and shared development between universities and cities. For instance, among the "Double First-Class" university new campus projects supported by the "Two Major" initiatives, approximately 50% are located in the central, western, and northeastern regions. This will effectively improve the regional distribution of higher education in China and drive economic and social development in these areas.

At the same time, the NDRC will consistently adhere to the close integration of investment in infrastructure and investment in people, focusing on addressing shortcomings in facilities such as student dormitories, cafeterias, sports venues, and libraries. These efforts aim to improve the learning and living environment for university students and create a favorable atmosphere for teachers and students to dedicate themselves to education and academic pursuits.