Recently, China West Normal University announced that the nation's first Giant Panda College is officially opening for enrollment this year. The college plans to admit 50 undergraduates majoring in Wildlife and Nature Reserve Management.

Established in September 2023, the Giant Panda College is a collaborative effort between the Sichuan Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau and China West Normal University. It operates as a secondary college within the university's College of Life Sciences, aiming to cultivate undergraduate and master's level professionals capable of working in grassroots positions in the Giant Panda National Park, nature reserves, and other conservation areas.

Since its inception, the Giant Panda College has strived for innovation in its curriculum. It integrates interdisciplinary subjects such as zoology and botany, and offers specialized courses like Advances in Giant Panda Conservation Biology. Additionally, the college provides students with internship opportunities that allow them to interact with giant pandas, helping them gain a deep understanding of the complexities and urgency of panda conservation in real-world settings.

Over the next four years, the newly enrolled students will receive comprehensive training that covers both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This includes learning about panda habitats, the status of wild pandas, and panda breeding and rearing practices. The goal is to prepare these students to become key contributors to the construction of ecological civilization in the future.