Fitness tests tied to academic progress at Chinese university
Nankai University wants its students to ‘get off the internet, get out of the dormitory and get into sports halls’
Students at a university in the northeastern Chinese city of Tianjin have been told they must pass a physical fitness test before they can progress to the next academic year, state media reports.
Nankai University said it wants students to master “two or more” sports and “get off the internet, get out of the dormitory and get into sports halls”, China Youth Daily reported on Tuesday.
It introduced a physical fitness scorecard – based on a test, health check and how much a student exercises – for every undergraduate this year, the report said.
That scorecard is taken into account alongside their academic results, and it also affects eligibility for scholarships.
The university announced the physical fitness policy at the end of last year and said it hoped it would encourage students to do at least one hour of exercise every day to improve their “moral character”.
Some 1,206 graduates were the first to receive physical fitness certificates this year, along with their academic certificates.
Fifty-seven of the top scorers were also recognised for their health and fitness achievements.
