On September 4, 2025, Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (Hainan BiUH) inaugurated its permanent campus in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, with international faculty delivering the first lectures to incoming students.
After operating temporarily at the Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone, the university now welcomes its inaugural cohort at Phase One of Yangpu’s facilities.
Hainan BiUH is the first university in the Hainan Free Trade Port independently established by a foreign higher-education institution. Backed by Germany’s Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, it currently offers four bachelor’s programs: Computer Science and Technology; Electronic Information Science and Technology; Economic Engineering; and Logistics Engineering.
The university employs the German Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences’ “practice-embedded” teaching model, which integrates academic coursework with hands-on training. This approach prepares graduates to meet the evolving staffing needs of Chinese and German companies while supporting the broader development goals of the Hainan Free Trade Port.
Phase One of the Yangpu campus spans approximately 300 mu (about 50 acres) and represents an investment of RMB 1.04 billion. Completed facilities include a welcome center; public teaching buildings; laboratory and training halls; a student center; dormitories; faculty apartments; and sports fields. Together, they can accommodate more than 2,500 students.
Sustainability is central to the campus design. The teaching buildings feature latticed mesh facades that maximize natural light, while the training halls and student center use perforated aluminum panels to enhance air circulation. Solar panels installed on multiple rooftops cut electricity use by about 30 percent, and landscaped green areas cover 40 percent of the site. The architecture blends Chinese and Western elements, creating a modern, youthful environment aligned with the university’s international outlook.
Hainan BiUH’s move into its permanent Yangpu campus marks a milestone in Hainan’s transformation into an international education hub and strengthens academic ties between China and Germany.
Related article: Beach Ultimate Frisbee, Rainforest Marathon, and More: Wanning Gears Up for a September of Sport
