For most college students, winter break means heading home to relax. But for the inaugural class of Tianshu Academy, it means hitting the Olympic slopes. On Jan 19, students from the Beijing Information Science and Technology University kicked off their holiday at a professional ski resort, marking a unique integration of high-level athletics and higher education.

Tianshu Academy, located in Huailai county in Hebei province, offers a specialized skiing curriculum that allows students to train on weekends and during holidays. The academy is part of BISTU's branch campus in Zhangjiakou, established under the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development strategy.

The academy is a feat of rapid infrastructure, built in just two years — a timeline faculty and locals describe as reflecting the "spirit of the Winter Olympics". Following a series of cooperation agreements in 2024, the academy welcomed its first cohort of 500 students in September 2025.

Currently spanning 10.9 hectares, the site is already slated for a massive expansion that will more than double its construction area to accommodate growing demand. While the specialized skiing curriculum attracts headlines, the academy's core mission is academic and economic in nature.

BISTU has established three research institutes on-site specifically tailored to the regional needs of Zhangjiakou, focusing on advanced manufacturing, new energy and the data economy.

Xie Jiangling, Party chief of BISTU, said establishing a branch campus in Zhangjiakou reflects the university's responsibility, as a Beijing-based institution, to support national strategies for regional coordinated development.

"The university's development needs are closely aligned with national and regional strategies," Xie said.

By using its strengths in intelligent equipment, robotics and big data, the university aims to meet local demand for industrial upgrading and talent development while enhancing its own academic standards and influence.

Strengthening higher education in Hebei is a key national goal, as the province's educational resources have historically lagged behind those of Beijing and Tianjin.

In January last year, China revealed a plan for building the country into a leader in education by 2035. Guo Jiahao, a student majoring in financial management, said the academy's flexible credit system allows him to explore interests beyond his major, including science and engineering courses.

Zhang Qi, Party secretary of Huailai county, said the university's research capacity and talent pool align well with the county's industrial development goals.

"The university's presence will provide the 'brainpower' needed to accelerate the conversion of technological achievements into industrial applications, and Huailai is committed to becoming a hub for the conversion of scientific and technological innovations," she said.

Contact the writers at yangcheng@chinadaily.com.cn