University Challenge.docVIP

University Challenge 　　On June 23， the Ministry of Education announced the expiry of a batch of regulatory documents， including Project 211 and Project 985， two major programs over the past two decades to develop universities in China. 　　In November 2015， the State Council， China’s cabinet， announced the country will build a number of world-class universities and first-class disciplines， with the long-term goal of establishing top-class universities as global front-runners by 2050. 　　According to experts， the new policy is expected to tackle problems such as redundant construction and a lack of competition that were brought about by the 211 and 985 projects. 　　Though having played an active role in promoting the development of China’s universities， the 211 and 985 projects engendered contro- versy for their side effects， including inequality and stagnancy， during their implementation. 　　“It’s time to terminate the two programs，” Xiong Bingqi， Vice President of the 21st Century Education Research Institute， told The Time Weekly， a Guangzhou-based weekly newspaper. “They have become liabilities to China’s education.” 　　 End of the line 　　Project 211 was launched in 1995 with the objective to build about 100 key Chinese universities in the 21st century， while Project 985 was introduced by former Chinese President Jiang Zemin during a speech at the 100th anniversary of Peking University in May 1998. 　　Universities had to meet certain academic and management standards to be granted 211-Project status. Being accepted into the project was an honor for a university， which could enhance its attractiveness to applicants. 　　“The two projects were initiated against the backdrop of Chinese universities and colleges facing budget shortages. The Central Government hoped to attract more local investment in higher education through the two projects to build a group of excellent universities and colleges in China，” Chu Chaohui， a researcher with the National Institute of