Tsinghua University president Qiu Yong has announced that the university is to make the ability to swim a requirement in order to receive a diploma.
Speaking during the annual Tsinghua University Staff Conference, Qiu said the announcement would take effect for the university's next intake of freshmen in fall 2017.
Tsinghua University president Qiu Yong /CFP Photo
This is one of a series of policies designed to strengthen students’ physical condition and promote the university’s sporting tradition, Qiu added. To compensate, Tsinghua would increase extracurricular exercise time for students.
Liu Bo, dean of the Department of Physical Education at Tsinghua University, said the freshmen would have a swimming test after enrollment, probably during the military training, according to the plan.
CFP Photo
Freshmen who can swim for 50 meters with any one of the four main strokes would be exempt from enrolling on the swimming course. All other students would be required to undertake the course, except those suffering from skin diseases, hydrophobia and any other unsuitable conditions for swimming, Liu added.
Tsinghua University promoted the same request in 1919 when the gym was built, dating back nearly 100 years, but had to be halted because of the lack of facilities.
The Chenming natatorium of Tsinghua University /CFP Photo
Liu said the university has an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool, and would provide additional swimming courses in the summer vacation, with the purpose of meeting the demand of the students.
“Besides facilities, we have more than 10 coaches specializing in swimming teaching,” Liu stated.
In addition to swimming, Tsinghua would also encourage students to do more exercises, and the university would not arrange courses for freshmen between 15:55 and 19:20, in order to maximize their time spent doing sports.
13km
