Founding ceremony held for Westlake University in Hangzhou

Sang Yarong China Plus Published: 2018-10-20 20:29:44
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The founding ceremony for Westlake University was held in Hangzhou on Saturday, marking the birth of China's first private university oriented towards high-end scientific research, reports thepaper.cn.

Approval to establish the university was granted by the Ministry of Education six months ago.

Leading Chinese academics inaugurate Westlake University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on Saturday, October 20, 2018. [Photo: VCG]

Leading Chinese academics inaugurate Westlake University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on Saturday, October 20, 2018. [Photo: VCG]

Chinese-American Yang Zhenning, a physics Nobel Prize winner and honorary chair of the Westlake University board of trustees, was one of the participants in the university's inauguration.

Addressing the ceremony, Shi Yigong, the first president of Westlake University, said that the university aims to become an innovator in China's higher education system, cultivating top-level talent and joining the ranks of world-class institutes.

Shi Yigong, the president of Westlake University, addresses the attendees at the founding ceremony of Westlake University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on Saturday, October 20, 2018. [Photo: VCG]

Shi Yigong, the president of Westlake University, addresses the attendees at the founding ceremony of Westlake University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on Saturday, October 20, 2018. [Photo: VCG]

The university grew out of the Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, which was founded at the end of 2016. The non-profit university, which is funded by the private sector, prioritizes academic research in areas such as the natural sciences, medicine, and advanced technology.

Westlake University enrolled its first batch of 19 doctoral candidates last year, a number that rose to 120 this year. The university is expected to have around 1,200 PhD candidates on campus next year. By 2026, the university is expected to have 5,000 full-time students, including 3,000 postgraduates and 2,000 undergraduates.

Located in the West Lake scenic area in Zhejiang Province's Hangzhou City, the university has two campuses. Its Yunxi campus began operations in 2017, while the Yungu campus is due to open next year.

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