Fudan offers more choices to undergraduates

Fudan University releases its Upgrade Plan 2020 for Undergraduate Education in June to offer a colorful fusion of courses for students. [Photo provided to China Daily]

From this academic year, Fudan University in Shanghai is offering more choices for undergraduate students.

The Upgrade Plan 2020 for Undergraduate Education offers a fusion of courses.

For instance, the 2+X education system in the plan offers undergraduates an opportunity to widen their basic general knowledge in the first two years.

In the third year, students can have more options, or even change their major subjects according to their interest and ability.

The college aims to help undergraduate students, so they can take the more challenging honors courses, which feature cutting-edge research and need more effort.

Honors students who achieve high grades will be given certificates, scholarships and prizes.

According to the plan, by 2020, all schools at Fudan University are to offer honors programs, though it is on trial only in few schools at present.

"The plan offers more choices to students. We are changing from teaching-oriented to learning-oriented education," says Jiao Yang, the Party chief of Fudan University.

Fudan University began working on education reform in 2015, but the plan was officially introduced in this academic year.

Speaking about the plan, Xu Ningsheng, the president of Fudan University, says: "Universities that offer excellent undergraduate courses will be regarded as top institutions."