18. Oct 2008
Beijing builds its own Tibetan Buddhist academy
(Xinhua) Construction of a central-government funded "academy of Tibetan Buddhism", in Nyetang town, Chushur (Chin: Chushui) county, near Lhasa has begun. According to Lobsang Gyaincain, head of the United Front Work Department of the TAR, the facility aims to train "patriotic and devotional religious personnel" who are "widely recognised both in their religious accomplishments and moral character". "In addition to religious theories, students will also be taught knowledge of other disciplines such as politics and sociology", he said. It is scheduled for completion in 2010. Xinhua hails the project as "the first comprehensive higher educational institution of Tibetan Buddhism in the region".