Foreign-run universities explore new models for international education in Hainan

en.hainan.gov.cn

Updated: 2026-07-08

As the Hainan Free Trade Port accelerates its global opening-up, its pioneering policy of allowing foreign universities to operate independently is yielding fresh results.

At a recent news conference in Hainan's capital of Haikou, Schramm-Wölk, president of Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (BiUH), and Luciano Lopez, acting president of Hainan Lausanne Tourism University, introduced their latest progress for 2026 — marking a new milestone for international education in the island province.

Both leaders highlighted their distinctive "industry-education integration" models.

BiUH is leveraging Germany's renowned applied sciences framework to cultivate tech talents, while Hainan Lausanne Tourism University is implementing Switzerland's gold-standard hospitality education to support Hainan's booming tourism sector.

These tailored strategies are designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world market demands.

Looking forward, the universities have plans to expand enrollment, add academic programs tailored to emerging industries, and introduce attractive new scholarship policies.

These developments underscore the growing momentum of independent foreign higher education in Hainan that offer students a special blend of global credentials and local career opportunities.