Construction finally kicked off on September 30. On the same day, 55 candidates took part in examinations for positions at the university's administrative offices.

"The process of reporting and seeking approval for every single endeavor proves the existence of excessive administrative power on the shoulders of education," Zhu said. "The Higher Education Law and other related rules and regulations allow no autonomy. What we are doing now is cracking the barrier, little by little."

According to Zhu, their current efforts are focused on negotiating with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to pass provisional regulations for the SUSTC.

"The provisional regulations will stipulate the school is an institution administered by a corporate legal person," Zhu said. "In this way, unlike other universities in China, the SUSTC will no longer be a government-managed institution."

The provisional regulations, drafted by the Shenzhen Legal Affairs Office, are expected to have input from both Zhu and the Shenzhen Education Bureau.

The first draft has been sent to Zhu's office for further revision. They will be in effect for about two years, after which better-rounded regulations will begin.

This type of institutional reform is seen as fundamental by Xiong Bingqi, an education expert with Shanghai Jiaotong University. He said the Higher Education Law did not go against the SUSTC's reforms, but the law must be improved to ensure the autonomy of the university.

"If the SUSTC becomes the first breakthrough, more will follow and reform toward de-bureaucratization and autonomy will have a promising future," Zhu said.

Progress of the SUSTC

March 2007: The Shenzhen Municipal Government announces an experimental university—South University of Science and Technology of China.

September 10, 2009: Zhu Qingshi is appointed president of the planned university.

January 2010: The university moves onto a temporary campus.

September 1, 2010: Su Liuyi, 10, becomes the university's first student.

September 30, 2010: Construction of university campus begins.

December 15, 2010: The university announces plan to enroll 50 students for its experimental classes.

(Source: SUSTC)