Recently, a large sign reading “Gu A Xin” was prominently displayed on the eaves of a storefront on a main street in Xi’an. The owner, Yang Chunlin, is a young Miao man who recently graduated from university. A student of the 2008 class in the News Editing and Production program at Xi’an International University, Yang transitioned from a campus entrepreneur selling handmade items to the founder of Gu A Xin National Clothing Co., Ltd. in just four to five years, now owning three physical stores in Xi’an and Tianjin.
Yang Chunlin is one of many success stories among Xi’an International University graduates. Since the establishment of the Entrepreneurship College in 2009, the university has nurtured thousands of qualified entrepreneurs whose ventures span diverse fields and regions across China.
Xi’an International University’s Entrepreneurship College has been vigorously exploring and practicing innovative entrepreneurship training, constructing a comprehensive education system that integrates faculty, courses, activities, practical training, and incubation to produce a steady stream of outstanding entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship College: Inspiring Entrepreneurial Dreams
“In 2009, the school launched an entrepreneurship lecture series, which was free of charge. The knowledge I gained there was invaluable, teaching me how to develop new projects and replicate successful ones,” said Yang Chunlin. His entrepreneurial ideas were born from attending these lectures.
Xi’an International University’s Entrepreneurship College was the first of its kind among Chinese universities. As a pioneer, the college faced the challenge of creating everything from scratch, with no existing models or support systems to follow.
Since its inception, the college has provided systematic entrepreneurship education to 4,990 undergraduates and 1,770 vocational students. These students have acquired entrepreneurial skills that typical university students may not have been exposed to.
Over the years, the university’s entrepreneurship curriculum has advanced to high-level talent training, establishing a graduate-level education platform and teaching system. The college is staffed with 20 full-time mentors, including two returned doctoral scholars. Recognizing the importance of professional ethics in entrepreneurship, the college has integrated integrity education into its curriculum, emphasizing commercial honesty and social responsibility through theoretical lectures and case studies.
The basic model of the university’s entrepreneurship education for master’s students is “bringing problems to school and graduating with a business.” Students are required to complete relevant professional and entrepreneurial foundation courses, engage in social practice, select entrepreneurial projects, develop business plans, and organize startup teams, ultimately aiming to graduate ready to launch their businesses.
Entrepreneurial Practice: Taking Action
In the summer of 2010, Yang Chunlin did not return home. Instead, he took his “Miao small stall” to explore the outside world.
“Our first stop was Beijing, but due to unfamiliarity with the market, the trip was fruitless,” Yang Chunlin recalled. On the return train to Xi’an, he reflected on his experiences, pondering why the theoretical knowledge from school didn’t align with practical realities.
Back at school, Yang sought advice from the entrepreneurship college faculty. “After deeper entrepreneurship education and conversations with successful alumni, I identified my issues,” said Yang. “Each alumnus is a successful model, and I learned a lot from them.”
“We focus on integrating entrepreneurial practice, cultivating leadership, humanistic spirit, and creativity,” emphasized Huang Teng, Chairman of Xi’an International University. “Our entrepreneurship education is both academic and practical.”
The university has built a 4,000-square-meter entrepreneurial practice base, comprising a student entrepreneurial practice plaza, a street, and an incubation park. The plaza offers space for marketing simulations and barter exchanges, managed by the entrepreneurship association on weekends. The entrepreneurial street has 29 shops, each 30-35 square meters, with complete facilities, located near living areas.
The base aims to become a provincial demonstration site for innovation and entrepreneurship, integrating teaching, research, project incubation, practical training, and comprehensive services. By June 2014, it hosted 29 entrepreneurial projects across cultural, sports, service, dining, and leisure industries, involving nearly 100 students.
Entrepreneurial Mentors: Sharing Success Secrets
The university employs a “dual-teacher” model, combining in-house theoretical and practical entrepreneurial education with mentorship from successful entrepreneurs. The faculty consists of full-time teachers and entrepreneurial mentors, the latter being successful business people. This dual approach allows students to gain practical insights and avoid pitfalls in their future ventures.
Student Li Fang expressed, “With both academic and entrepreneurial mentors, my small shop in the entrepreneurial practice base is thriving. Entrepreneurship no longer seems distant.”
“The class is very dynamic with great interaction,” noted Dr. Zhuang Guijun from Xi’an Jiaotong University. “The accomplished students in the elite class provide valuable insights that also enhance my research.”
The university leverages its successful alumni network to host entrepreneurial case-sharing activities, strengthening ties between current students and alumni, further fostering entrepreneurial spirit.
Entrepreneurial Fund: Empowering Startups
On March 20, 2010, Xi’an International University established the first entrepreneurial fund in Shaanxi province, the Yuhualong Entrepreneurial Fund, alongside an entrepreneurial support lecture tour. The fund aims to provide financial support to aspiring entrepreneurs.
The fund started with 2 million yuan, supporting students and social entrepreneurs, while the lecture tour offered direct guidance and financial aid to maximize entrepreneurial value.
In March 2011, Sun Guoxiu, a 1999 graduate, received a 200,000 yuan interest-free loan from the fund to support her sweet potato processing brand “Laoxiangweng.” She credited the school and fund for giving her the confidence to expand her business.
“Entrepreneurship education must teach knowledge and skills while providing tangible financial and intellectual support,” said Huang Teng. “Our goal is to help students start strong and achieve lasting success, ultimately running further and soaring higher.”
In conclusion, Xi’an International University’s comprehensive approach to entrepreneurship education—combining academic instruction, practical experience, mentorship, and financial support—has successfully cultivated numerous entrepreneurial talents who are making significant contributions across various industries nationwide.
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