What is 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.