A university of science and technology was set up Tuesday in Baotou, north China's Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, the largest higher education institution in the region.

The Inner Mongolian University of Science and Technology is the merger of the Baotou Iron and Steel Colleges, Baotou Medical College and Baotou Teachers College, all established in the region more than 40 years ago.

The university is equipped with the latest teaching and laboratory facilities, a modern computer center and libraries housing 1.25 million books.

With more than 30,000 students, it offers courses in eight categories and 106 majors, 17 of which offer postgraduate degrees.

The merging of schools, which started in the region in 1998, has promoted local higher education and advanced regional development through science and technology, said a local official.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2003)