China has set up its first university for risk management and emergency management education. The new institution will promote and encourage emergency management education and training.
The university is expected to help in easing a nationwide shortage of professionals in this important area. China already has a Ministry of Emergency Management.
According to a report by the news agency Xinhua, the new university established in Langfang city of Hebei province was inaugurated by Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing in January 2026. Mr Zhang, in an address, said the university's establishment represents the realisation of a major decision aimed at strengthening talent cultivation and academic development in emergency management.
The university is expected to focus on major disaster and accident risk prevention and emergency response, strengthen fundamental theoretical research, and accelerate breakthroughs in key core technologies and common enabling technologies. Mr Zhang said this move advances the modernisation of the country's emergency management system and capabilities.
He said the university should conduct specialised research across the full spectrum of emergency management work and build clusters of disciplines and majors that serve key areas such as workplace safety, natural disaster prevention and control, and emergency rescue and relief operations.
Mr Zhang urged the new university to develop more "emergency management plus" training models, with a strong focus on practical skills and real-world drills, and to cultivate more interdisciplinary professionals "who understand the industry, master technical expertise, value safety, and can respond effectively in emergencies".
The new university is expected to provide richer practical platforms, improving students' operational readiness for real emergencies. It has 15 schools, covering areas such as emergency technology and management, mine safety, chemical safety, and emergency equipment.
Xinhua reported that, according to a blue paper on safety and emergency management talent in China, released in January 2025, the country's total demand for safety and emergency management professionals is estimated at 16m. China currently has a workforce of about 10.5m in this sphere; hence, the talent gap stands at around 5.5m.