Timeout to learn a key lesson

Studies can be paused to give students chance to set up a business

Chinese college students now have a new option in addition to continuing their studies or getting an internship - starting their own company after suspending their schooling, something they can do without losing their status as a student.

And the effort to promote entrepreneurship and innovation has been popular on campus. In the past 12 months, more than 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have introduced such flexible educational systems. The length of time students can take away from their studies without losing their status as students can be as long as eight years.