Nearly 90 universities and colleges in Fujian province have joined together to form a union to promote innovation and entrepreneurship education in the region. A ceremony to officially launch the new association was held on Nov 30.

More than a dozen business entities and government-affiliated organizations have also joined the union, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Providing support and training for would-be entrepreneurs has been a key focus of regions across China in recent years, particularly since Premier Li Keqiang called for a new wave of "mass entrepreneurship and innovation" at the Davos summit in 2014.

The new union is designed to boost the quality and quantity of higher education courses in Fujian focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation.

To date, there are 30 higher education institutions in Fujian offering innovation and entrepreneurship programs, while 20 of them have already applied to open industrial parks to attract and nurture innovation-driven enterprises.

The launch ceremony and inaugural meeting for the new association was held inside Huaqiao University, one of the union's founding members.

Xue Weimin, deputy director of Fujian's education department, said that the union will help the region's universities pool their resources and explore the reform measures that could be applied to promote the growth of innovation and entrepreneurship in Fujian. Jia Yimin, president of Huaqiao University, said that the university will continue to push the development of innovation and entrepreneurship education, and attempt to nurture outstanding talents with an international vision and the ability to execute their innovative plans.

The university encourages and offers guidance to graduating students to start their own business ventures, Jia added.

Representatives from higher education institutions across Fujian province attend the launch ceremony of the Fujian Universities Union for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education on Nov 30. [Photo from fjsen.com]