Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign
Cooperation in Running Schools
（《中华人民共和国中外合作办学条例》英文版）
(Adopted at the 68th Executive Meeting of the State Council on February 19, 2003, promulgated by
Decree No. 372 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on March 1, 2003, and
effective as of September 1, 2003)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Education Law of the People's
Republic of China, the Vocational Education Law of the People's Republic of China and the Law of
the People's Republic of China on Promotion of Privately-Run Schools for the purposes of
standardizing Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools, strengthening international exchange
and cooperation in the field of education and promoting the development of the educational cause.
Article 2 These Regulations apply to the activities of the cooperation between foreign educational
institutions and Chinese educational institutions (hereinafter referred to as Chinese and foreign
cooperators in running schools) in establishing educational institutions (hereinafter referred to
as Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools) within the territory of China to provide education
service mainly to Chinese citizens.
Article 3 Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools is an undertaking beneficial to public
interests and forms a component of China's educational cause.
For Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools, the State adopts the policies of opening wider
to the outside world, standardization of running schools, exercising administration according to
law and promoting its development.
The State encourages Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools to which high-quality foreign
educational resources are introduced.
The State encourages Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools in the field of higher
education and vocational education, and encourages Chinese institutions of higher learning to
cooperate with renowned foreign institutions of higher learning in running
schools.
Article 4 The legal rights and interests of Chinese and foreign cooperators in running
schools and of Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools shall be protected by the laws of
China.
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools shall enjoy preferential policies made by the State and
enjoy autonomy when conducting educational activities in accordance with law.
Article 5 Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools shall abide by the laws of China,
implement China's educational policies, comply with Chinese public ethics and shall not jeopardize
China's sovereignty, security and public interests.
Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools shall meet the needs of the development of China's
educational cause, ensure teaching quality and make efforts to train all kinds of talents for
China's socialist construction.
Article 6 Chinese and foreign cooperators in running schools may cooperate to establish educational
institutions of various types at various levels. However, they shall not establish institutions
offering compulsory education service or special education services such as military, police and
political education services.
Article 7 No foreign religious organization, religious institution, religious college and
university or religious worker may engage in cooperative activities of running schools within the
territory of China.
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools shall not offer religious education, nor conduct
religious activities.
Article 8 The education administrative department of the State Council shall be responsible for
overall planning, comprehensive coordination and macro control for all Chinese-foreign cooperative
activities in running schools nationwide. The education administrative department, the labour
administrative department and other relevant administrative departments of the State Council shall
be responsible for the work in relation to Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools in
accordance with their functions and duties as defined by the State Council.
The education administrative departments of the people's governments of the provinces, autonomous
regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for overall
planning, comprehensive coordination and macro control for all Chinese-foreign cooperative
activities in running schools within their respective administrative regions. The education
administrative departments, the labour administrative departments and other relevant administrative
departments of the people's governments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities
directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for the work in relation to
Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools
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within their respective administrative regions in accordance with their functions and duties.
Chapter II Establishment
Article 9 An educational institution which applies for establishing a Chinese-foreign
cooperatively-run school shall have the legal person status.
Article 10 A Chinese or foreign cooperator in running a school may contribute with funds, in kind
or in forms of land-use right, intellectual property rights or other assets to establish the
school.
Contribution of intellectual property rights by a Chinese or foreign cooperator in running a school
shall not exceed one-third of its total contribution. However, for a foreign educational
institution that comes to China for cooperation in running a school at the invitation of the
education administrative department or the labour administrative departmen of the State Council or
at the invitation of the people's government of a province, an autonomous region or a municipality
directly under the Central Government, its contribution in the form of intellectual property rights
may exceed one-third of its total contribution.
Article 11 A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall meet the basic requirements prescribed
by the Education Law of the People's Republic of China, the Vocational Education Law of the
People's Republic of China, the Higher Education Law of the People's Republic of China and other
laws and administrative regulations, and shall have the legal person status However, a
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school established to offer higher education service through the
cooperation between a foreign educational institution and a Chinese institution of higher learning
which offers education for academic qualifications may have no legal person status.
The establishment of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall follow the standards for the
establishment of State-run educational institutions of the same type and at the same level.
Article 12 An application for establishing a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school offering
higher education for academic qualifications at or above the regular university education shall be
subject to examination and approval of the education administrative department of the State
Council; an application for establishing a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school offering
specialized higher education or higher education for non-academic qualifications shall be subject
to examination and approval of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or
municipality directly under the Central
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Government where the proposed school is to be located.
An application for establishing a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school offering secondary
education for academic qualifications, programs of tutoring self-taught students for examinations,
programs offering supplementary teaching of school courses and pre-school education shall be
subject to examination and approval of the education administrative department of the people's
government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government
where the proposed school is to be located.
An application for establishing a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school offering vocational
technical training shall be subject to examination and approval of the labour administrative
department of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly
under the Central Government where the proposed school is to be located.
Article 13 The establishment of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall include two steps
of preparation for establishment and formal establishment. However, the applicant may file an
application directly for formal establishment if it fulfills the conditions for offering education
and meets the standards for establishment.
Article 14 An applicant who applies for preparation for establishment of a Chinese-foreign
cooperatively-run school shall submit the following documents:
(1) a project report which shall mainly contain the names of the Chinese and foreign cooperators in
running the school, the name of the proposed cooperatively-run school, educational targets, size of
the school, level and form of education to be offered, conditions for offering education, system of
internal management, sources of funding and capital management and use, etc.;
(2) a cooperative agreement which shall contain the duration of cooperation and ways of dispute
settlement, etc.;
(3) valid documents verifying sources of assets and amount of capital, with clear statement of
ownership;
(4) a donation agreement for any assets provided as a donation to the proposed school, which
carries the name of the donor, value of donation, purpose of use and management methods, and the
relevant valid verifying documents; and
(5) a certificate verifying that not less than 15 percent of initial funds provided by the Chinese
and foreign cooperators is already invested.
Article 15 In the case of an application for preparation for establishment of a
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Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school, the examination and approval authorities shall decide
whether to grant the approval or not within 45 days from the date of receiving the application. If
the application is approved, a letter of approval for preparation for establishment shall be
issued; if the application is not approved, reasons shall be provided in writing.
Article 16 An applicant whose application for preparation for establishment of a Chinese-foreign
cooperatively-run school is approved shall file an application for formal establishment within
three years from the date of approval; if it is more than three years, the Chinese and foreign
cooperators in running the school shall file an application anew.
During the period of preparation for establishment, no students shall be enrolled.
Article 17 An applicant who has completed its preparation for establishment and applies for formal
establishment shall submit the following documents:
(1) an application for formal establishment;
(2) the letter of approval for preparation for establishment;
(3) a report on the progress of preparation for establishment;
(4) the articles of association for the Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school, and a lis of
members on its first board of trustees or board of directors, or of its first joint manageria
committee;
(5) valid documents verifying assets of the Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school;
and
(6) documents verifying the qualifications of the president or principal administrator, the
teachers and financial staff.
An applicant who directly applies for formal establishment of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run
school shall submit all documents listed under subparagraphs (1), (4), (5) and (6) of the preceding
paragraph and subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) of Article 14.
Article 18 In the case of an application for formal establishment of a Chinese-foreign
cooperatively-run school offering education for non-academic qualifications, the examination and
approval authorities shall decide whether to grant the approval or not within three months from the
date of receiving the application; in the case of an application for formal establishment of a
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school offering education for academic qualifications, the
examination and approval authorities shall decide whether to grant the approval or not within six
months from the date of receiving the application. If the application
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is approved, a permit for Chinese-foreign cooperation in running the school printed in a standard
format and numbered in a unified way shall be granted; if the application is not approved, reasons
shall be provided in writing.
The format of the permit for Chinese-foreign cooperation in running a school shall be determined by
the education administrative department of the State Council and the printing be arranged
separately by the education administrative department and the labour administrative department of
the State Council in accordance with their respective functions and duties; the permit for
Chinese-foreign cooperation in running a school shall be numbered in a unified way by the education
administrative department of the State Council and the specific measures shall be formulated by the
education administrative department jointly with the labour administrative department of the State
Council.
Article 19 In the case of an application for formal establishment of a Chinese-foreign
cooperatively-run school offering education for academic qualifications, the examination and
approval authorities, upon receiving such an application, shall organize an expert committee to
make an evaluation, and the expert committee shall give its opinions.
Article 20 A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school which has obtained the permit for
Chinese-foreign cooperation in running the school shall register in accordance with the relevant
laws and administrative regulations, and the registering authorities shall process the registration
timely in accordance with the relevant provisions.
Chapter III Organization and Administration
Article 21 A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school with the legal person status shall set up a
board of trustees or a board of directors, and a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school without
the legal person status shall set up a joint managerial committee. Chinese members on the board of
trustees, the board of directors or of the joint managerial committee shall not be less than half
of the total number.
The board of trustees, the board of directors or the joint managerial committee shall be composed
of at least five members with one of them serving as the chairperson and one of them serving as the
vice-chairperson respectively. If either of the Chinese and foreign cooperators in running the
school assumes the chairpersonship, the other shall assume the vice-chairpersonship.
The legal representative of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school with the legal person
status shall be appointed through consultation between the Chinese and foreign
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cooperators in running the school from the chairperson of the board of trustees, or the
chairperson of the board of directors, or the president of the cooperatively-run school.
Article 22 The board of trustees, the board of directors or the joint managerial committee of a
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall be composed of the representatives from both the
Chinese and foreign cooperators in running the school, the president or principal administrator of
the school, the representatives of the school's teaching and administrative staff, etc., and
one-third of the members shall have at least five years of work experience in the field of
education and teaching.
The list of members on the board of trustees, the board of directors or of the joint managerial
committee of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall be submitted to the examination and
approval authorities for the record.
Article 23 The board of trustees, the board of directors or the joint managerial committee of a
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall exercise the following powers:
(1) electing or by-electing the members on the board of trustees, the board of directors or of the
joint managerial committee;
(2) appointing or dismissing the president or the principal administrator;
(3) modifying the articles of association and formulating school rules and bylaw;
(4) formulating development plans and approving annual work plans;
(5) raising operational funds, examining and approving the budget and the final accounts;
(6) determining the staff arrangement and quotas and the wage scales;
(7) making decisions on the division, merger or termination of the Chinese-foreign
cooperatively-run school; and
(8) exercising other powers specified by the articles of association.
Article 24 The board of trustees, the board of directors or the joint managerial committee of a
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall meet at least once a year Interim meetings of the
board of trustees, the board of directors or the joint managerial committee may be convened upon
proposal made by at least one-third of its members.
The board of trustees, the board of directors or the joint managerial committee of a
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall adopt its decision upon agreement by at least
two-thirds of its members when it discusses the following major issues:
(1) appointing or dismissing the president or the principal administrator;
(2) modifying the articles of association;
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(3) formulating the development plan;
(4) making decisions on the division, merger or termination of the Chinese-foreign
cooperatively-run school; and
(5) other major issues specified by the articles of association.
Article 25 The president or the principal administrator of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run
school shall be a person with the nationality of the People's Republic of China, domicile in the
territory of China, love the motherland, possess moral integrity, and have work experience in the
field of education and teaching as well as compatible professional expertise.
The president or the principal administrator appointed by a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run
school shall be subject to approval of the examination and approval authorities.
Article 26 The president or the principal administrator of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run
school shall exercise the following powers:
(1) executing the decisions of the board of trustees, the board of directors or the joint
managerial committee;
(2) implementing the development plan and drafting annual work plans, financial budget, rules and
bylaw;
(3) employing and dismissing the staff and executing rewards and punishments;
(4) organizing teaching and scientific research activities and ensuring teaching quality;
(5) taking charge of daily administrative work; and
(6) exercising other powers specified by the articles of association.
Article 27 A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall administer its teachers and students in
accordance with law.
Foreign teachers and administrators employed by a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall
possess a bachelor's degree or above and related occupational certificates, and have at least two
years of work experience in the field of education and teaching.
The foreign cooperator shall send a certain number of teachers from its own educational institution
to teach in the Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school.
Article 28 A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall safeguard the lawful rights and
interests of its teachers and students in accordance with law, guarantee the payment and welfare
benefits of the teaching and administrative staff and pay social insurance premiums for the
teaching and administrative staff.
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The teaching and administrative staff of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall establish
their trade union and other organizations in accordance with law, and participate in the democratic
governance of the Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school through the staff congress or other
means.
Article 29 Foreign employees of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall abide by the
relevant provisions on employment of foreigners in China.
Chapter IV Education and Teaching
Article 30 A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall offer courses on the constitution,
laws, ethics of citizens and basic facts about China, etc. in accordance with the requirements by
China for educational institutions of the same type at the same level.
The State encourages Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools to introduce
internationally advanced courses and teaching materials that are urgently needed in China.
A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall report the courses that it offers and the teaching
materials that it has introduced in to the examination and approval authorities for the record.
Article 31 A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school may, if necessary, use foreign languages in
teaching, but shall use the standard Chinese language and standard Chinese characters as the basic
teaching language.
Article 32 The enrollment by Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools offering higher education
for academic qualifications shall be incorporated into the national enrollment plan for
institutions of higher learning. The enrollment by Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools
offering other education for academic qualifications shall be conducted in accordance with the
provisions of the education administrative departments of the people's governments of the
provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government.
The enrollment of overseas students by Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools shall be conducted
in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State.
Article 33 The enrollment brochures and advertisements of Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools
shall be submitted to the examination and approval authorities for the record.
A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall publicize regularly relevant information on the
type and level of its education, its specialties and courses and its enrollment plan, etc.
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Article 34 Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools offering education for academic qualifications
shall grant academic qualifications certificates or other education certificates in accordance with
the relevant provisions of the State; those that offer education for non-academic qualifications
shall grant training certificates or course completion certificates in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the State. Students who receive vocational skill training may be granted relevant
national vocational qualifications certificates in accordance with the relevant provisions of the
State if they pass the evaluation by a vocational skill evaluation organ authorized by the
government.
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools offering higher education for academic qualifications may
grant relevant Chinese certificates of academic degrees in accordance with the relevant provisions
of the State.
Certificates of academic qualifications or certificates of academic degrees of a foreign
educational institution granted by a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall be identical
with the certificates of academic qualifications or certificates of academic degrees issued by the
foreign educational institution in its own country and shall be recognized by that country.
The recognition of certificates of academic qualifications or certificates of academic degrees of a
foreign educational institution granted by Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools shall be
governed by the international treaties concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China or
the relevant provisions of the State.
Article 35 The education administrative department of the State Council or the education
administrative departments, the labour administrative departments and other related administrative
departments of the people's governments of the provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities
directly under the Central Government shall strengthen their routine supervision over
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools, organize or authorize intermediary organizations to
evaluate the management and educational quality of the Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools
and publicize the evaluation results.
Chapter V Assets and Financial Matters
Article 36 Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools shall establish and improve their financial
and accounting systems as well as their assets management system in accordance with law, and shall
keep books of accounts pursuant to the relevant provisions of the State.
Article 37 During the period of their existence, Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run
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schools shall enjoy the property of legal persons on all their assets in accordance with law, and
no other organizations or individuals may encroach on such assets.
Article 38 The items and standards of charges by Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools shall be
determined and publicized in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State on price fixing
by the government; no additional items or increase in charges shall be allowed without approval.
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools shall use Renminbi instead of any foreign currencies in
calculating and collecting tuition and other fees.
Article 39 All fees collected by Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools shall be mainly used
for educational and teaching activities and for improving the conditions of school operation.
Article 40 Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools shall abide by the provisions of the State on
foreign exchange control in conducting their activities of the receipt and payment of foreign
exchange and opening and using foreign exchange accounts.
Article 41 Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools, at the end of each fiscal year, shall prepare
financial and accounting reports, commission public auditing institutions to conduct auditing work
in accordance with law, publicize the audit findings, and file such information with the
examination and approval authorities for the record.
Chapter VI Alteration and Termination
Article 42 Division or merger of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall be reported to
the examination and approval authorities for approval, after the liquidation, by the board of
trustees, the board of directors or the joint managerial committee.
In the case of an application for division or merger of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school
offering education for non-academic qualifications, the examination and approval authorities shall
reply in writing within three months from the date of receiving the application; in the case of an
application for division or merger of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school offering education
for academic qualifications, the examination and approval authorities shall reply in writing within
six months from the date of receiving the application.
Article 43 Alteration of cooperators in running a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall be
proposed by the cooperators, and after liquidation, with the consent of the board of trustees, the
board of directors or the joint managerial committee, shall be reported to
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the examination and approval authorities for approval, and the relevant alteration formalities
shall be undertaken.
Any alteration in the domicile, legal representative or the president or the principal
administrator of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall be subject to examination and
approval of the examination and approval authorities, and the relevant alteration formalities shall
be undertaken.
Article 44 Any alteration in the name, level or type of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school
shall be reported for approval by the board of trustees, the board of directors or the joint
managerial committee to the examination and approval authorities.
In the case of an application for altering a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school to offer
education for non-academic qualifications, the examination and approval authorities shall reply in
writing within three months from the date of receiving the application; in the case of an
application for altering a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school to offer education for academic
qualifications, the examination and approval authorities shall reply in writing within six months
from the date of receiving the application.
Article 45 A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall be terminated in one of the following
cases:
(1) where a request for termination is made in accordance with the articles of association and
approved by the examination and approval authorities;
(2) where its permit for Chinese-foreign cooperation in running the school is revoked; or
(3) where it is unable to continue its operation due to insolvency and such termination is approved
by the examination and approval authorities.
A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall make proper arrangements for its students at
school upon its termination; a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall submit a plan for
such arrangements while applying for termination thereof.
Article 46 A Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall make liquidation in accordance with law
upon termination.
Where a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school itself requests termination, the Chinese-foreign
cooperatively-run school shall organize liquidation; where the termination is the result of
dissolution by the examination and approval authorities in accordance with law, the examination and
approval authorities shall organize liquidation; where the termination is the result of inability
to continue the operations for education due to its insolvency, a people's court shall be requested
according to law to organize liquidation.
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Article 47 Upon liquidation, a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school shall settle its
outstanding debts according to the following sequence:
(1) tuition and other fees that shall be refunded to the students;
(2) salaries due to the teaching and administrative staff and their social insurance premiums
payable;
(3) payments for other outstanding debts.
The remaining assets of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school after the settlement of the
above debts shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws and
administrative regulations.
Article 48 Where a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school is terminated after approval or its
permit for Chinese-foreign cooperation in running the school is revoked, it shall return its permit
for Chinese-foreign cooperation in running the school and its official seals to the examination and
approval authorities and register its cancellation in accordance with law.
Chapter VII Legal Liability
Article 49 Where the examination and approval authorities for Chinese-foreign cooperation in
running schools or their personnel, by taking advantage of their office, accept money or property
from others or obtain other interests, or, by abusing their power or neglecting their duty, issue
a permit for Chinese-foreign cooperation in running a school to those that do not meet the
requirements prescribed by these Regulations, or fail to conduct investigation when an illegal act
is discovered, if the consequences are serious and the case violates the criminal law, the persons
in charge who are responsible and other persons directly responsible shall be investigated for
criminal liability in accordance with the provisions of the criminal law on the crime of acceptance
of bribes, the crime of abuse of power, the crime of neglect of duty or other crimes; if the case
is not serious for criminal punishments, they shall be given administrative sanctions in accordance
with law.
Article 50 Where any authority, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, examines and
approves a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school beyond the scope of power, the document of
approval shall be null and void and the higher level authorities shall order it to make
corrections; the persons in charge who are responsible and other persons directly responsible shall
be given administrative sanctions in accordance with law; if public property or interests of
the State and the people sustains heavy losses, they shall be
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investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the provisions of the criminal law on the
crime of abuse of power or other crimes.
Article 51 Where anyone, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, establishes a
Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school without approval, or defrauds a permit for Chinese-foreign
cooperation in running the school by illegitimate means, the education administrative department or
the labour administrative department shall ban it according to their respective functions and
duties, or, jointly with the public security organ, order it to return the fees collected from the
students, and concurrently impose a fine of not more than 100,000 yuan; in case the criminal law is
violated, criminal liability shall be investigated in accordance with the provisions of the
criminal law on the crime of swindle or other crimes.
Article 52 Where anyone, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, enrolls students
within the period of preparation for establishment of a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school,
the education administrative department or the labour administrative department shall, according to
their respective functions and duties, order it to stop the enrollment of students and to return
the fees collected from the students, and concurrently impose a fine of not more than 100,000 yuan;
if the circumstances are serious and it refuses to stop the enrollment, the examination and
approval authorities shall revoke the letter of approval for preparation for establishment.
Article 53 Where either Chinese or foreign cooperator in running a school makes false capital
contribution or withdraws the capital contribution after establishment of the Chinese-foreign
cooperatively-run school, the education administrative department or the labour administrative
department shall, according to their respective functions and duties order it to make corrections
within a prescribed time limit; if it refuses to make such corrections within the prescribed time
limit, the education administrative department or the labour administrative department shall,
according to their respective functions and duties impose a fine of not more than twofold of its
false capital contribution or of its capital contribution withdrawn.
Article 54 Anyone who forges, alters, buys or sells a permit for Chinese-foreign cooperation in
running a school shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the provisions of
the criminal law on the crime of forging, altering, buying or selling certificates of a State organ
or other crimes.
Article 55 Where a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school adds items of fees charged or raises
the level of fees charged without approval, the education administrative department
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or the labour administrative department shall, according to their respective functions and duties,
order it to return the fees overcollected, and the pricing department shall punish it in accordance
with the provisions of the relevant laws and administrative regulations.
Article 56 Where a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school causes gross adverse impacts due to its
poor management or inferior educational and teaching quality, the education administrative
department or the labour administrative department shall, according to their respective functions
and duties, order it to make rectification within a prescribed time limit and make an announcement;
if the circumstances are serious, or no rectification is made within the time limit, or the
requirements are not met after its rectification, the education administrative department or the
labour administrative department shall, according to their respective functions and duties, order
it to stop its enrollment of students and revoke its permit for Chinese-foreign cooperation in
running the school.
Article 57 Where anyone, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, issues false
enrollment brochures and swindles money or property, the education administrative department or the
labour administrative department shall, according to their respective functions and duties, order
it to make corrections within a prescribed time limit and give a warning, confiscate its illegal
gains, if any, and may concurrently impose a fine of not more than 100,000 yuan after fees
collected have been refunded, and, if the circumstances are serious, order it to stop enrollment of
students and revoke its permit for Chinese-foreign cooperation in running the school; if a crime is
constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated in accordance with the provisions of the
criminal law on the crime of swindle or other crimes.
Where a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school issues false enrollment advertisements, it shall
be investigated for legal liability in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Advertisement
Law of the People's Republic of China.
Article 58 Where a Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school has its permit for Chinese-foreign
cooperation in running the school revoked as an administrative punishment, the chairperson of its
board of trustees or its board of directors, or its president or principal administrator shall be
prohibited from taking positions of the chairperson of the board of trustees or of the board of
directors, the president or principal administrator of any Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school
within ten years starting from the date of revocation of its permit for Chinese-foreign cooperation
in running the school.
Those who violate the provisions of these Regulations and the criminal law and are
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punished for criminal liability in accordance with law shall be prohibited from engaging in
activities of Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools within ten years starting from the
date of completion of service of criminal punishments.
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions
Article 59 Cooperation in running schools between educational institutions from the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region or Taiwan and mainland
educational institutions shall be handled with reference to the provisions of these Regulations.
Article 60 Measures for administration of for-profit training institutions which are cooperatively
run by Chinese and foreign parties and registered at the administrative department for industry and
commerce shall be formulated separately by the State Council.
Article 61 Specific measures for examination and approval and administration of cooperatively-run
educational projects for offering education for academic qualifications tutoring self-taught
students for examinations, supplementary teaching of school courses or pre-school education, etc.,
which provide education mainly to Chinese citizens and are operated jointly by foreign educational
institutions and Chinese educational institutions within the territory of China, shall be
formulated by the education administrative department of the State Council.
Specific measures for examination and approval and administration of cooperatively-run educational
projects for offering vocational skill training, which provide education mainly to Chinese citizens
and are operated jointly by foreign educational institutions and Chinese educational institutions
within the territory of China, shall be formulated by the labour administrative department of the
State Council.
Article 62 No foreign educational institution, other organization or individual may establish
unilaterally schools or other educational institutions providing education mainly to Chinese
citizens within the territory of China.
Article 63 Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools established in accordance with law before the
implementation of these Regulations shall apply retroactively for permits for Chinese-foreign
cooperation in running schools as required by these Regulations. Those that do not fully meet the
requirements prescribed by these Regulations shall, within two years starting from the date of
implementation of these Regulations, accomplish such requirements; for those that fail to do so
within the prescribed time limit, the examination and approval
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authorities shall dissolve them.
Article 64 These Regulations shall be effective as of September 1, 2003.
