AI+X Micro-Major — Five East China Universities' Joint AI Credential Across Disciplines

In March 2025, five leading East China research universities — Zhejiang University (lead), Fudan University, Nanjing University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the University of Science and Technology of China — jointly launched the 'AI+X' micro-major, a stackable credential open to students from any discipline. The curriculum combines programming, data structures, algorithm design and AI fundamentals with hackathons, research workshops, industry talks and courses co-developed with technology companies; graduates receive a certificate jointly awarded by all five institutions. Zhejiang University also built the 'Zhihai' AI education platform and a 'ZJU Mentor' intelligent-agent tool to support the programme, and has stated a goal of extending access to universities in central and western China.
A 2025 mixed-methods academic study of the East China AI+X micro-credential model combined a systematic literature review (357 articles screened down to 44 eligible studies) with a survey of 100 students across six East China universities running AI+X programmes. It found that teaching resources (β=0.522, p<0.001) and learning communities (β=0.619, p<0.001) significantly predicted student-reported outcomes, explaining 70.3% and 64.9% of variance in theoretical-practical learning and technical competencies respectively.
Caveats: the evidence is a single cross-sectional, self-reported survey (n=100) rather than a controlled or longitudinal study, so it shows association, not proof of causal learning gains. The stated equity goal of reaching central and western China is an intention, not yet backed by published participation data. No public information was found on data-governance or ethical-review processes for the AI platforms used by students.

Read the full analysis: https://www.zju.edu.cn/english/2025/0318/c19573a3028038/page.htm