By Wang Yanfang
Intro: After almost a decade of effort, the University of Rehabilitation Science, proposed by Zhang Haidi, president of Rehabilitation International (RI), has officially opened.
After almost a decade of effort, the University of Rehabilitation Science, proposed by Zhang Haidi, president of Rehabilitation International (RI), has officially opened.
In 2015, Zhang proposed the project to China’s cabinet, the State Council, with support from various ministries. The university aims to ensure all people with disabilities can enjoy rehabilitation services.
Zhang has expressed gratitude to the RI executive committee on multiple occasions for supporting the university’s establishment. The committee held its 2024 spring conference in the newly established university on May 28. Moreover, RI works with the university to build a cooperative research center and autism research center.
The university’s 530,000-square-meter modern campus is located in the Qingdao National High-tech Industrial Development Zone in east China’s Shandong province.
Jointly established by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the National Health Commission of China, and Shandong province, it is the first university named after “rehabilitation” in China and the world.
The high-standard university will establish a comprehensive professional system centered on rehabilitation disciplines, with a foundation in medicine, science and engineering. It will also incorporate interdisciplinary development in management, pedagogy and sociology.
The university primarily offers undergraduate programs while also providing graduate studies. Additionally, the institution provides educational opportunities for international students and offers continuing education programs.
The university plans to admit 10,000 students, including 5,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students. Jointly trained Ph.D. students have already begun graduating from the institution.
