The sound of the two sessions|Due to the shortage of graduate dormitories in some universities, members suggest purchasing social闲置houses in an overall plan
“Despite being accepted to a graduate program, there is no dormitory accommodation.” In recent years, the issue of limited student dormitory space in some universities has become a subject of discussion, posing as the first challenge for some students pursuing postgraduate studies. Renting a house for the duration of the graduate program, which can last two to three years, is a significant expense.
Zhao Ling, the Director of Development Planning at East China University of Science and Technology, faces the challenge of managing dormitory spaces and student enrollment. While expanding student enrollment, the university faces a limited dormitory capacity. It is necessary to survey the total number of beds, consider the two campuses, different majors, and grades separately, or students may have to commute for accommodation and classes.
Zhao Ling, a member of the Shanghai Political Consultative Conference and Director of Development Planning at East China University of Science and Technology, along with other committee members Han Yifan and An Qi, jointly submitted the proposal “Suggestions on Government, Universities, and Social Forces Collaborating to Accelerate the Solution of Student Dormitory Shortages in Colleges and Universities” to the 2025 Shanghai Political Consultative Conference. The proposal suggests various methods to address the issue of limited student dormitory space, including coordinating idle social housing, increasing special fund support, and creating diverse and friendly student dormitory communities.
The shortage of dormitory resources in some universities is coupled with significant conditions disparities. Zhao Ling analyzed that the expansion of university enrollment has not been synchronized with the expansion of dormitory facilities. In recent years, some universities have solved the problem of insufficient on-campus dormitory space by renting student housing off-campus, encouraging students to find their own housing, or even doubling up in single-gender dormitories. However, this has resulted in increased financial burdens for students who have to rent off-campus housing at high costs.
Zhao Ling pointed out that student demand is currently diverse and dorms are not just a place to sleep but also a venue for activities. She noted that there are significant differences in the conditions of university dorms across campuses. Some older dorms in main campuses lack modern facilities and privacy, resulting in poor living experiences and safety concerns. She also highlighted that a single mode of dormitory management cannot meet the diverse growth needs of students. The increasing diversity in student populations, including more master’s and doctoral students, leads to distinct age groups and varying academic needs that require different accommodation options. Additionally, multi-campus universities in Shanghai often require students to relocate within different campuses based on their academic needs.
Regarding the conversion of social housing into student dorms, Zhao Ling identified several challenges. Despite the government’s efforts in coordinating or purchasing social housing for student accommodation, there are still complexities involved in purchasing and converting these properties. She emphasized that it requires collaboration between government and social forces to achieve this goal alone cannot be done by universities.
It is worth mentioning that in response to the shortage of student dormitory resources in some universities, the Ministry of Education, along with other six departments, jointly issued the “Guidance on Strengthening the Construction of Student Dormitories in Colleges and Universities” in 2024. The guidance proposed solutions from multiple dimensions such as financing mechanisms, resource channels, supporting policies, and dormitory management. It encouraged universities to purchase or rent social housing such as talent apartments and commercial buildings nearby to supplement dormitory resources. The government has also set up a special fund to support this initiative and provide preferential policies such as cost reduction, financial subsidies, and property services for universities.
Zhao Ling revealed that recently, some universities in Shanghai have utilized these policies to obtain financial support and quickly alleviate the problem of insufficient dormitory space by purchasing off-campus housing. She also proposed establishing a dynamic adjustment mechanism for dormitory fees while optimizing the use of financial education funds. The government should consider factors such as economic and social development, student financial affordability, and dormitory operation costs in adjusting dormitory fees dynamically.
Regarding the idea of借鉴国外部分高校不提供住宿的做法,打造学生社区,赵玲回答:“我们可以打造学生社区,提供一定的优惠或补贴,类似于社会保障房。但如果完全按照市场化运营,对于学生群体来说可能很难。而且社区必须集中在高校区域,不能太远,否则仍会给学生带来诸多不便。”
In her proposal, she also mentioned strengthening operational management to create diverse and friendly student dormitory communities. Socialized student dormitory communities should fully consider students’实际需求,such as learning, living, sports, and social activities, with sufficient public spaces and related facilities. Universities should collaborate with the government and social institutions to provide training guidance and daily supervision and evaluation for socialized dormitory staff. Meanwhile, students’ self-governance should be fully leveraged, gathering forces for student party building and group activities, creating “homeowner committees” or community leaders with self-governance identities, and leveraging student dormitory self-management initiatives to jointly create friendly student living spaces.