A total of eight students from the Mongolian People’s Republic – which borders Northern China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region -- graduated from Baotou Light Industry Vocational Technical College at a ceremony held on June 27, according to the Baotou Evening News.

The eight students received the first batch of the graduation certificates to be issued to foreign students in Baotou city.

In 2016, Baotou Light Industry Vocational Technical College began to recruit international students. Eight students from Mongolia were enrolled as the first batch of international students to start full-time courses.

Two majors were chosen by the eight students: automotive applications and repairs, and food processing technology. In order to adapt them to college life more quickly, the school arranged Mandarin courses for them, and teachers who speak both Mandarin and Mongolian were on hand to help.

Established in 1956, Baotou Light Industry Vocational Technical College is situated in Baotou, in Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

At present, the school has around 15,000 students and 1,000 faculty members. It has 15 secondary colleges, one affiliated secondary school and one affiliated vocational high school.

It offers 46 higher vocational majors -- including food technology, electromechanical engineering, chemicals, energy, e-commerce, aviation, finance, biology, automobiles, art, information technology and agricultural sciences. All of the majors are open to applications from foreign students.

The school has established links with more than 40 institutions in more than 10 countries, including Mongolia, Russia, the United States and Malaysia, and it has set up several academic exchange programs.

Starting in 2016, the school has enrolled some 40 international students.

In 2007 and 2012, it passed evaluations carried out by the Ministry of Education. In 2013, it became one of the first demonstration vocational colleges in Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Proud as punch, Mongolian students receive their graduation certificates at a graduation ceremony held at Baotou Light Industry Vocational Technical College on June 27. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]