Five universities opened educational and training centers devoted to human rights on Tuesday as part of a national campaign.

The centers are at Renmin University of China in Beijing, Fudan University in Shanghai, Wuhan University in Hubei province, Shandong University in Jinan, and the Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing.

Li Weihong, vice-minister of education, said there was an urgent need for universities to update their human rights courses in line with the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-15).

The centers are the second batch to be set up. In July 2011, centers were established at Nankai University in Tianjin, China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, and Guangzhou University in Guangdong province.

Li, speaking at Tuesday's launch ceremony hosted by the State Council Information Office, called on all eight centers to cooperate and consolidate theories on human rights based on Chinese characteristics.

Han Dayuan, head of Renmin University of China's law school, said courses on the study of human rights will be introduced along with training sessions for government officials, prosecutors and lawyers.

Chang Jian, deputy director of the human rights center at Nankai University, said there are nearly 60 such centers at China's universities, but these eight will act on a national rather than local basis.

He said his center has worked on three research projects on topics related to human rights each year since 2011, and all the projects have been completed and the findings published.

The centers were established following the inclusion of the phrase "the State respects and protects human rights" in China's Constitution in 2004.