University Dormitory Expansions Face Fiscal Challenges (AI Translation)
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- China's higher education institutions may see a new wave of dormitory construction due to the issuance of 'Guidance on Strengthening the Construction of University Student Dormitories' by seven departments including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Education.
- The guidance aims to address the shortage and poor conditions of student housing, linking enrollment plans with dormitory space, and encouraging diverse funding mechanisms, including local government special bonds.
- Concerns include adapting to fluctuations in student populations, financial pressures on universities for loan repayment, and potential conflicts between maintaining public welfare in education and adopting more market-oriented approaches.
文｜财新周刊 黄蕙昭，潘睿（实习）
By Caixin Weekly's Huang Huizhao, Pan Rui (Intern)
时隔近20年，高校或将迎来新一轮宿舍建设潮。
After nearly two decades, universities may be on the cusp of a new wave of dormitory construction.
2024年1月18日，国家发展改革委、教育部等七部门联合印发《关于加强高校学生宿舍建设的指导意见》（下称《意见》），明确“补齐高校学生宿舍短板”，健全多元筹资机制，多渠道扩大学生宿舍资源，同时推动招生计划与宿舍面积挂钩。
On January 18, 2024, China's National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, and five other departments jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of University Student Dormitories" (hereinafter referred to as "Opinions"). The document clarifies the objective to "remedy the shortcomings in university student dormitory facilities," improve a diversified financing mechanism, expand student dormitory resources through multiple channels, and simultaneously promote the linkage between enrollment plans and dormitory space.
“我们现在非常需要宿舍建设的支持政策。”《意见》发布前夕，一所西部省属高校的负责人告诉财新，“我们学校到现在还有一批学生住着八人间，面积非常紧张，而且这种紧张不是学校规模扩张过大导致的，是地方财政相对困难，没有支持过学校做大规模建设项目导致的。”
"We are in dire need of supportive policies for dormitory construction," a representative from a provincial university in the western region told Caixin on the eve of the release of the "Opinions." "To this day, our school still has groups of students living in eight-person rooms. The space is extremely tight, and this isn't due to overexpansion of the school's scale; it's because local finances are relatively strained and there hasn't been support for large-scale construction projects at the school."
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