Yu Lizhong, president of East China Normal University, toasts foreign students during a nianyefan gathering on Tuesday night.

 

A number of local universities plan to provide lunar New Year's Eve dinner to needy students who remain on campus over the Spring Festival.

 

Several schools are also offering free academic trainings, part-time jobs and the chance for migrant students to spend the festival with local families.

 

Owing to limited funds or a busy study schedule, thousands of migrant students can't return home to spend the Chinese New Year with their families this year.

 

East China University of Science and Technology have matched each of its more than 300 remaining students with a Shanghai-native classmate or teacher, sending them for dinner and entertainment activities with a local family during the first three days of the festival.

 

"We know many students stayed for study or part-time jobs, but all these items will be canceled during the first three days," said Yao Yanyan, a university spokesperson.

 

The program will not only give students from outside the city a chance to enjoy the festival atmosphere in Shanghai, it will also be a good way for them to pass their time, Yao said.

 

This year, the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese Youth League has distributed 800 sets of e-magazine designing software, worth four million yuan (US$500,000), to remaining students and will offer free computer and foreign language training during the holiday.

 

More than 1,000 students at East China Normal University were invited to nianyefan -- the traditional family reunion dinner -- at the university's two campuses last night.

 

Besides, migrant students were also granted a 200 yuan yasuiqian -- gift money given to children during the Chinese New Year -- at the university, Fudan University and Shanghai Normal University.

 

Wang Haiyan, a Shandong Province native at Fudan, said that it makes financial sense to skip the trip home this year, as he can enjoy so many benefits while avoiding the Spring Festival transport rush.

 

(Shanghai Daily February 16, 2007)