The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission have jointly released Notice of Publishing Lists of Constructing First-Class Universities and First-Class Disciplines which will participate in the country’s construction plan of first-class universities and first-class disciplines (hereafter referred to as “Double First-Class Initiative”). Sichuan University and University of Electronic Science and Technology of China will be developed into first-class educational institutions. Southwest Jiaotong University, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu University of Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, and Chengdu University of TCM will focus on building their preponderant disciplines into first-rate ones.

　　Some disciplines of these 8 universities in Sichuan will be developed into first-class ones, including Mathematics, Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Basic Science of Medicine, Stomatology and Nursing of Sichuan University, Traffic and Transportation of Southwest Jiaotong University, Electronic Science and Technology, and Communication and Information Engineering of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering of Southwest Petroleum University, Geology of Chengdu University of Technology, Crop Science of Sichuan Agricultural University, Pharmacy of Chengdu University of TCM, and Applied Economics of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics.

　　Constructing first-class universities and first0class disciplines is the major strategic decision by the Central Committee of CPC and the State Council. In October 2015, the State Council released Comprehensive Scheme of Promoting the Construction of First-Class Universities and First-Class Disciplines. In January 2017, The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission have jointly released Implementation Methods For Promoting the Construction of First-Class Universities and First-Class Disciplines (Interim), indicating that the construction of “Double First-Class Initiative” has stepped into operational stage.

　　According to the comprehensive scheme and implementation methods, universities and disciplines selected in “Double First-Class Initiative” are chosen through competitive selection, expert evaluation, government assessment, and periodic screening. While the universities and disciplines selected in the list are emphasized on developing and the starting point for stepping into world-class ones instead of meaning that those universities and disciplines have already been recognized as first-class ones.