On the afternoon of December 26, 2008, the Hewlett-Packard workstations at the Communication University of China held a press conference, announcing a strategy of bringing Hewlett-Packard workstations into the education sector. The result is the creation of the "HP Education Centre of Excellence," a joint laboratory built by HP and the university.

The "HP Education Center of Excellence" project includes animation, manufacturing, and oil—three popular fields of study. As well as creating educational resources and international business experiences in technology, the center will help industry research and produce first-class industry talent.

Hewlett-Packard workstations offer innovative solutions to the teaching profession. Firstly, for various professional institutions focussing on different industries, Hewlett-Packard will provide industry-leading workstation equipment to address hardware problems; secondly, the IT environment includes a combination of hardware and software, consulting services and technical support; thirdly, they will widen international exchange and communications in the creative and design industry, advancing the educational experience; and finally, they offer professional and simulation applications, including those on the industry's development, application requirements and social practices.

Dorothy Tao, Director of Workstation Business, Personal Systems Group

This is a global program, which involves a wide range of co-operation between lots of hardware and software makers. From 1999 to 2009, this has been a strategic plan, and will not change in economic conditions. As far as I know, it will not be changed because of the recent economic crisis.

The first group selected to receive Hewlett-Packard workstations from the "HP Education Centers of Excellence" project are Fudan University and Huazhong University of Science & Technology.