BEIJING – A variety of main universities below China’s “double first-class” initiative have introduced undergraduate enrolment expansions for 2026, with new slots concentrated in artificial intelligence, built-in circuits, new supplies and different strategic sectors, in line with official enrollment plans from a number of establishments.
The double first-class initiative is a nationwide technique launched by the Chinese authorities in 2015 to construct world-class universities and disciplines by offering prioritised assist to chose establishments and topic areas.
Southeast University in Jiangsu province will enhance its enrolment by 600 college students, whereas Xidian University in Shaanxi will add 400 and Xi’an Jiaotong University, additionally situated in Shaanxi, will increase its consumption by 360 in contrast with final 12 months. Fudan University in Shanghai, Nanjing University in Jiangsu and Lanzhou University in Gansu will every expand enrollment by 300 college students, whereas Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications has deliberate an extra 180 locations, in line with a report by China Central Television.
AI-related disciplines are a serious focus. Nine universities, together with Beihang University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and Harbin Institute of Technology in Heilongjiang, have been authorised to launch undergraduate programmes in embodied intelligence. Tongji University in Shanghai is introducing new majors in future robotics and engineering web, whereas many establishments are increasing present programmes in robotics engineering, laptop science, massive information and AI, the report stated.
Engineering programmes in core applied sciences proceed to develop. Integrated circuits, semiconductors, new supplies, telecommunications, cybersecurity, low-altitude know-how, vitality storage and electrical engineering are among the many precedence areas for enlargement. The enrolment enhance additionally covers new drugs, new agriculture and new liberal arts majors, the report added.
Niu Guowei, director of the admissions workplace at China Agricultural University, informed China Daily that the college plans so as to add 320 locations in 2026, with the rise allotted to top-notch revolutionary expertise cultivation, worldwide programmes and fields of pressing nationwide want.
The college has established three new innovation lessons – sensible plant safety, future meals and molecular science, he stated.
It can also be launching two new Sino-foreign cooperative programmes in AI and laptop science with the University of Surrey within the United Kingdom, marking its first engineering-focused worldwide partnerships, Niu stated.
Additional locations might be allotted to veterinary drugs, laptop science, sociology, biomass science and engineering, facility agriculture, and companion animal science to satisfy the calls for of nationwide methods and market wants, he added.
Liu Zhaomiao, vice-president of Beijing University of Technology, stated the college’s complete undergraduate enrolment for 2026 stands at 3,979, a rise of 200 from final 12 months.
The new locations are geared toward strategic rising industries and future-oriented sectors akin to built-in circuits, AI, quantum know-how, new vitality, new supplies and biomanufacturing, he stated.
The college has added new majors in quantum data science, our on-line world safety, and information computing and purposes, and is growing admissions in mechanical engineering, supplies science and engineering, optical engineering, and management science and engineering, he stated.
Meanwhile, additionally it is increasing AI-empowered administration programmes and built-in economics-management majors, he stated.
“The university will continue to deepen its educational reforms, driven by national strategies and the capital’s development needs, to provide solid talent support for building a strong education system and Beijing’s high-end industrial sectors.”
Wang Jin, director of admissions on the University of Science and Technology Beijing, stated the college’s 2026 undergraduate enrolment plan is 3,690, up 90 from final 12 months, with all further locations directed to new supplies, built-in circuits and AI.
Two new majors are being launched: built-in circuit design and built-in methods, which is able to enrol 30 college students of their first 12 months, and mental property, which goals to domesticate interdisciplinary authorized expertise with engineering information in new supplies, AI, inexperienced low-carbon applied sciences and data and communications know-how, he stated.
The college has in recent times launched a number of rising majors, together with AI, robotics engineering, clever manufacturing engineering, supplies intelligence – the primary of its variety in China – and carbon neutrality science and engineering, additionally a home first, he added. CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK