（photo provided by China Daily)
Xie Mengfei's WeChat account "Wuhan University Assistant" has attracted more than 20,000 followers as it provides course results, class information and even lectures.
Since its launch last February, his account on the popular text and voice messaging app has been dubbed the "Siri of Wuhan University" by his followers after a famous phone app.
Thanks to Wuhan University's unique credits system, Xie, 21, a junior computer science major,has already achieved all his necessary credits for the year and dropped all his courses for the second semester.
The extra free time gives him room to explore software such as the "Wuhan University Assistant" plug-in for his We Chat account.
As early as 2006, Wuhan University introduced its innovation credits, which allowed undergraduates to work on scientific research, do pioneering work and participate in social activities according to their specialties and interests while at school.
Based on student achievements, a reviewing committee would then award credits.
Wuhan University has deepened reform on teaching styles and encouraged more students tobe innovative.
To inspire this creativity, the university allocated more than 2 million yuan ($330,500) to set up the innovative practice project and opened key national labs and engineering research centers to undergraduates.
It also invested 19 million yuan to build the engineering practicing innovation center.
"We have gradually formed a relatively mature planning process and managing system through years of constant exploration and practice," said Chen Chuanfu, the dean of theundergraduate college at Wuhan University.
Recently, a figure disclosed by Zhang Xiaoqiang, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, caused widespread debate in China's academic world.
While attending an international forum, Zhang said that Chinese patents in science and technology accounted for just 10 percent, far less than the 40 percent of developed countries.
To encourage students to dream big, the university set up a club in April 2013 that gave them a platform to discuss business ideas with each other and a space to put the ideas into action.
"We need to work at full throttle to cultivate students' interest in entrepreneurship," said Chen Lifu, dean of the educational department for the undergraduate school.
"We also need to strengthen guidance in students' entrepreneurial practices so they can workout how to start up businesses so we can give them support if they fear failure."
To improve students' innovation and entrepreneurial competence, Wuhan University has further strengthened its approval of students' research and development projects.
From 2006 to 2013, the number of student innovation projects at the university reached 4,549,with approved funding of the projects totaling 8.48 million yuan.
Of these, 589 are at national level with a total of 5.71 million yuan funded by the Ministry of Education.
The remainder involve amateur science research with more than 2.77 million yuan offered by the university.
"Wuhan University's development strategy is 'to hold up to the sky and down to the earth',which means that our level of teaching and research should be high and we should also solidly implement those policies that encourage innovation," said Li Xiaohong, president of the university.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2014-02/24/content_17300124.htm
