Tibet will celebrate her 50th anniversary as an autonomous region on September 1.

As a first-time visitor to the region, one could see massive investment in physical development. But the most impressive is the development of people's capacities through education.

In recent years, China has invested hugely in the education sector of Tibet so as make it catch up with other better developed areas in the economic and social area.

China's policy on education favors the autonomous regions because of the disadvantages existing in their development. Policy makers believe that through education, the regions can be fully developed and integrated.

Tibet was once a rural area of communities scattered around the hills and mountains of the Himalayas. Education was not considered a priority.

The Central Government's free and compulsory education policy has created differences for it. According to official figures, the percentage of school enrollment is far and above any province in China.

At present, there are five universities and more than 10 higher institutions in the region. Also, 15 years of free education from primary school to university is a benefit to Tibet, as many other parts of China enjoy free education for nine years.

Some 80 percent of the enrollment at the University of Tibet is allotted to students from Tibet because of the peculiar nature of the environment.

"Everything is peculiar because of the environment and high altitude, our students are encouraged to study at home for adaptability to the environment," said Professor Xuan Zin of University of Tibet.

Chin Cao, a student of Environmental Studies, said his courses are based on the peculiar nature of his locality.

"You know we are in a higher altitude, our environment is peculiar to us and there is the urgent need to study it and be able to deal with the peculiar and emerging issues," he said.

Visit to the Institute of Forestry and Research in the university revealed that a lot of research on plants including flowers has been done. Besides, according to Professor Dan Xian, a lot of research has been done in environmental studies including in the area of soil.

He added students are encouraged to study courses that are adaptable and useful in resolving the environmental challenges peculiar to high altitude.

In the Human Capacity Development Training and Manpower Development Center, over 100 people are being retained and empowered to become self-employed and further to begin their entrepreneurship.

The center is supported by the central government as part of the empowerment and retraining program for both the youth and the elderly in the society.

The 27-year-old Gama Zunshu, head of one of the centers, said they provide training to people in weaving, designs, dressmaking, animal husbandry and modern method of farming.

"I encourage the youth and the elderly to participate in training courses and get something out of their lives instead of looking for what to do," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2015)