Shandong University, based in the Shandong provincial capital city of Jinan, signed an agreement with the Qindao municipal government to build a branch school in the coastal city of Qindao on Aug 16.

The new campus is projected to cover an area of 200 hectares in Jimo, a county-level city in the north of Qindao. Construction will start in October and the college is expected to enroll the first batch of students in 2014.

"The branch school will stress the subjects of technology and science, especially the marine economy, marine and high-tech sectors," said Xu Xianming, principal of Shandong University. "It will cultivate a large number of talents for the development of the Shandong Peninsula Marine Economic Zone."

Li Qun, secretary of the Qingdao municipal committee, said the local government will provide preferential policies and funds to support the initiative.

By Wang Qian (China Daily Shandong Bureau)