Yunnan University ramps up comprehensive ecology studies

Yunnan University, or YNU – located in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province – has developed and introduced a comprehensive education system of ecological studies since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012.

This covers three academic majors: ecosystems, the environment and biology.

In terms of practice, Yunnan University has moved towards improving the abilities of students to solve practical problems related to local microclimates and various ecosystems.

Yunnan University carries out a joint internship program with Uppsala University in Sweden. [Photo provided by Yunnan University]

At the same time, to study various creatures, the university has built an internship base in the wild, to improve students' abilities to solve complex ecological and environmental problems.

"Since its implementation, the education system has boosted developments in talent cultivation and discipline construction," said a YNU manager involved in the program.

The university's ecology program was selected as a "first-class discipline" in China. It has, in addition, been recognized for developing seven national excellent courses and it has also published seven sets of national teaching materials, among which its publication Plant Ecology was selected to receive a National Teaching Material Award.