Hainan University marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its Mission Hills Campus on Sept 1. The event saw prominent attendees, including government officials from Hainan province, as well as key figures, faculty members and student representatives from the university. 

The inauguration ceremony was chaired by Fu Xuanguo, secretary of the CPC HNU committee. 

The opening of the Mission Hills Campus is a monumental event in HNU's history, signifying a fresh start for the university's future endeavors, Fu said. 

At this new juncture, HNU will elevate its internationalization efforts, fulfill its responsibilities as a participant, strategist, incubator and reserve force in the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port and showcase the reform and opening-up of China's higher education in the new era, according to Fu. 

The establishment of the Mission Hills Campus is a significant step forward in supporting HNU in establishing world-class disciplines and building itself into a top-tier university, said Luo Qingming, president of HNU and an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 

The Mission Hills, with its focus on Sino-foreign cooperative education, aims to construct an open and distinctive international campus. It aspires to become a driving force for the high-quality development of HNU, integrating into the construction of the Hainan International Education Innovation Island, president Luo said. 

Campus scenery [Photo/Haikou Daily] 

The Mission Hills is a focal point of HNU's campus development and a major project in Hainan province. Situated in Longhua district of Haikou, it neighbors the Mission Hills Resort and covers about 45 hectares with a total construction area of 320,000 square meters.

At present, Phase I construction has been completed and the Phase II is in full swing. The university has started the preliminary work for Phase III. The entire campus is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025. As per the university's deployment, the intake of freshmen at the International Business School and the relocation of the School of Tourism, the Hainan University-Arizona State University Joint International Tourism College and Jinzhao Academy are progressing smoothly, ensuring that the campus will be ready for the autumn semester this year.