Shanghai's school for officials

The China Executive Leadership Academy at Pudong stands out from other academic institutes, with its remarkable bright red buildings promoting an easy association with the Communist Party of China.

Indeed, the academy, located in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, is no ordinary school. Founded in 2005 and directly administered by the Organization Department of the CPC's Central Committee, it's one of five national-level leadership institutes and its sole purpose is the education of high-level officials.

The academy provides a range of programs tailored for intermediate and senior government officials, business executives and other senior professionals from home and abroad.

Since its establishment, the academy has followed the spirit of opening-up and reform and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and has developed a unique approach to training. It employs reform practices pioneered in the Yangtze River Delta and the resources of Shanghai as an international metropolis, to give leaders an international perspective and improve their capabilities through training programs.

So far, the academy has organized about 1,400 training programs for around 70,000 participants.

In addition to lectures and discussions, the academy has also developed more than 300 teaching sites across the Yangtze River Delta, that participants can visit and gain a better understanding of social conditions nationally.

Compared with traditional teaching methods, where participants passively receive knowledge, the courses at the academy emphasize a wide range of views and participant interaction.

"Many people are curious about what is taught here. Some even believe that officials are brainwashed here," said Feng Jun, executive vice-president of the academy.

"Actually, it's more about brainstorming, which helps to open minds, broaden horizons and provide a sound understanding of the Party's most important strategies," he said.

The academy also arranges international training programs to help officials from overseas better understand Chinese culture, the economy and business environment and to boost friendships between China and other countries.

More than 3,000 officials from 115 countries have attended the international exchange courses at the academy.