Armed with modern facilities, Zhejiang University in East China has given all students an opportunity to receive first-class art education on its campus.

On Wednesday, experts and educators from 12 key universities across China toured the newly built Art College teaching building at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang.

They were thrilled to see the modern facilities and excellent environment at the HK$5 million (US$641,000) building and to learn that a group of talented teachers will enable more art students, as well as those with other majors, to receive a first-class art education. This has been the dream of many other young students throughout the country.

As expexrts emphasized during a seminar afterwards, all universities should put more effort into improving its art college.

"To run a good art college inside a university is crucial, for it not only improves on the school's over-all qualities, but will also push forward the development of the subject of art itself," said Liu Fengtai, deputy director of the higher education department of the Ministry of Education.

Liu said that for years, China's educational system had always emphasized its social functions while neglecting the area of the human spirit.

Fortunately, along with the "quality education reform" that was launched in 1995 and geared to promoting all-around qualities, more universities became aware of this and are now beginning to focus their attention on humanistic subjects, including literature, history, philosophy and art.

(China Daily June 8, 2002)