High-ranking school officials investigated and punished over scandals

In January, Chen Yingxu, a professor at the renowned Zhejiang University, was sentenced to 10 years' jail by the intermediate people's court in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, for embezzling more than 9 million yuan ($1.46 million) of research funds by fabricating receipts and contracts.

In late December, Chu Jian, Zhejiang University's vice-principal, was investigated over allegations of "misusing state-owned assets".

In December, An Xiaoyu, vice-president of southwestern China's Sichuan University, was probed under charges of corruption related to the construction of a new campus.