Technology university established in Shenzhen

In a milestone in building a new type of Chinese research-oriented institution, the Ministry of Education approved the establishment of Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology last week, the university said on Wednesday. "SUAT plans to become a top university in science and technology in China within 10 years and a world-class university in science and engineering within 20 years," said Fan Jianping, director of the university's preparatory office. The model of building a university based on leading research organizations can be found worldwide, Fan said, adding that the future relationship between SUAT and SIAT could be something akin to that of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Lincoln Laboratory, or that of the University of Chicago and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. "By introducing competition and encouraging mutual improvement among universities, the new type of research-oriented institutions will raise the quality of higher education across the country and will motivate existing universities to enhance their standards," he said.