In the Xingyi division of the China Amateur football league (the fourth tier of the Chinese Football Association), the Guizhou Open University (Guizhou Vocational Technology Institute) and Rongjiang County “government-university cooperation” campus football team (formerly known as “Guizhou Open University Football Club”) faced off against the Shenzhen Jixiang team.

Talent cultivation: From “supplying promising players’ to “nurturing the fertile soil”

In 2016, the university designated football as its “one university, one brand” and pioneered a “university-school cooperation” model for talent supply, with Rongjiang No.1 High School as the main partner. From 2016 to 2019, over 20 students with football talents from Rongjiang were admitted, helping the university win the championship of the provincial university games in the higher vocational group, the fifth place in the southern region of the national college football league in the higher vocational and junior college group, and the eighth place in the national finals. Over 100 football players from Rongjiang have been trained, forming a closed loop of “supply - cultivation – feedback”. Graduates have returned to Rongjiang to serve as coaches or engage in youth training, enhancing the level of the village super league and injecting vitality into grassroots football.

Industrial development: From “competing for the championship” to “driving the village super league”

In 2023, over 60 current and former students participated in the village super league, with the majority of the players in the championship and runner-up finals coming from our university. From 2024 to 2026, current and former students rooted in Rongjiang, actively participating in event organization, youth training, and sports industry operations, evolving from participants to core drivers of the event and industry.

Integration of sports and education: From “one university, one brand” to the “School of Culture, Tourism and Sports”

In 2026, the university established the School of Culture, Tourism and Sports, elevating the integration of sports and education to the strategic level of discipline and industry collaboration. With football at the core, it will deepen talent co-cultivation, smooth the channel for talent supply from primary and secondary schools to universities, and improve the youth training system. It also built a high-level sports team with Rongjiang, established the “Village Super Open University” club, trained coaches and referees, and provided practical training and employment opportunities. It cultivates talents in cultural tourism operation and intangible cultural heritage inheritance, promotes the inheritance and innovation of local culture, develops cultural tourism study routes, and advances the intelligent management of scenic spots, achieving a two-way empowerment of talent cultivation and the tourism industry.

Through the collaboration between the university and the local area and the integration of industry and education, it has injected the strength of higher education into the integration of cultural tourism and sports industries and rural revitalization in Rongjiang, providing a “Guizhou model” for the coordinated development of regional sports culture, higher education, and local industries.

Editor: School of International Studies Ye Liheng

Translator: Public Basic Course Department Sun Tingting

Chief Editor: School of International Studies Wu Yangjunyue

Senior Editor: School of International Studies Chen Lina