The South University of Science and Technology in Chinese city Shenzhen is seen somewhat as a rebel of the Chinese education system -- its style of teaching and enrollment a departure from the norm.

Just like the Silicon Valley, China’s tech centre Shenzhen also wants to have its own Stanford. So six years ago, the Southern University of Science and Technology was born.

It aimed to reform China’s higher education system with Western experiences.

Chen Su came here four years ago in the second enrolment...and performed well in SUSTech interview.

"It is like a white paper, and I can draw the blue print, about what the university should be, could be in the future," Chen said.

After being enrolled, students will be divided into four colleges, like Harry Potter in Hogwarts, just without the magic hat.
Englishi is the universal language here , no matter in classrooms or meetings. And almost every Sustech student will join labs to conduct research.

"I feel like a scientist, all the equipments in the lab.....in university in US," Chen said.

Attracted by Sustech’s “rule by professors”, Prof. Zheng Chunmiao left Peking University for here a year ago. He is now evaluating the candidacy of the biotech school dean with other professors.

In other Chinese universities, it’s almost impossible for professors to take part in deciding administrative positions.

"The academic committee consisting of professors plays a leading role in SUSTech, making all the important academic decisions. We have the final say in establishing schools, picking teachers and managers," said Professor Zheng Chunmiao, Southern University of Science & Technology.

Though satisfied with the freedom, Zheng said he still feels helpless in many things that is beyond the capability of SUSTech.

"Indeed, it’s very difficult. The most difficult is to find a really practical and workable path to achieve our goal. In the past few years, we’ve started some experiments and now our main focus is to consolidate them with the help of government and parents," said Wu Chuanyue, vice president of Southern University of Science and Technology.

Wu said the mission is to innovate and reform but it needs to lay low but act hard for now.

He prefers to being a contributor rather than being a rebel to China’s higher education reform.