¡¡¡¡BEIJING, Feb. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- China's Ministry of Culture (MOC) and People's University jointly launched a culture administration course here Thursday, dubbed a culture "MBA", which is designed tostrengthen the administration of cultural organizations.

¡¡¡¡The two-year course will comprise 12 subjects, including a general study of the culture industry, marketing and human resources management.

¡¡¡¡The first course has enrolled 64 professionals, mainly from local culture administrations, artistic creation departments, performing troupes and agencies, as well as education and researchinstitutes.

¡¡¡¡Among the students, 32 percent were aged from 30 to 40, and 36 percent from 41 to 50. Thirty-one percent held bachelor degrees and 4 percent master degrees. Fifty-five percent had worked in theculture field for 16 years or more.

¡¡¡¡People's University president Ji Baocheng said the university, founded in 1937 and now one of the top universities in China, should contribute to Chinese culture, which was essential to building a comparatively well-off society in an all-round way.

¡¡¡¡Pan Zhenzhou, vice-minister of culture said the rapid progressin China's culture industry inspired and encouraged staff. The course, which would cultivate professionals with international administration experience, was in accordance with culture development required by economic circumstances. Enditem