What is Project 211 and Project 985 Universities

1.Project 211

Project 211 is a constructive project of nearly 100 universities and disciplines in the 21st century conducted by the government of China. The project aims at cultivating high-level talents for national economic and social development strategies. The project began from the idea that, in the mid 1990s, the 30 elite universities at the time were too low by international research standards.

Inclusion in the project means that universities have to meet scientific, technical and HR standards and to offer set advanced degree programs. The figure of 21 and 1 within 211 are from the abbreviation of the 21st century and approximate 100 universities respectively.

China now has more than 1,700 standard institutions of higher education, and about 6 percent of them are 211 Project institutions. 211 Project schools take on the responsibility of training four-fifths of doctoral students, two-thirds of graduate students, half of students abroad and one-third of undergraduates. They offer 85% of the State'skey subjects; hold 96 percent of the State's key laboratories; and utilize 70%of scientific research funding. During the first phase of the project from 1996 to 2000, approximately USD 2.2 billion was distributed.

2.Project 985

Project 985 is a project that was first announced by CPC General secretary and Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the100th anniversary of Peking University on May 4, 1998 to promote the development and reputation of the Chinese higher education system by founding world-class universities in the 21st century and eponymous after the date ofthe announcement, May 1998, or 98/5, according to the Chinese date format. The project involves both national and local governments allocating large amounts of funding to certain universities in order to build new research centers,improve facilities, hold international conferences, attract world-renowned faculty and visiting scholars, and help Chinese faculty attend conferences abroad.

In 2009, 9 universities made up the C9 League, which is referred to as the Chinese equivalent of the US Ivy League. By the end of the second phase of the project, 39 universities were sponsored. It was announced in 2011 that the project has closed the door, no more new schoolsto join in.