In July 2002, Suzhou CPC Municipal Committee and Municipal Government decided to build Suzhou International Education Park at Shihu Lake Resort Area in Shangfang Hill. The Municipal Standing Party Committee Meeting and Government Executive Meeting approved this project one of the major practical projects of the city. The purpose of setting up Suzhou International Education Park is to accommodate the needs of economic and social development in Suzhou, build Suzhou as a new international techno polis, a most desirable city for development and career and a Learning City, to accomplish the goal of a strong city and better-off people as well as The Two Firsts, to speed up the development of higher education and vocational education of the city, better vocational education resources, adjust the layout and structure, scale up education, set up human resource highland, change the backward situation of the city edge area, improve living conditions of people, promote the urbanization , strengthen the city competitive power, enhance the city image.
Suzhou International Education Park is composed of two districts. The Northern District, which occupies 3.5 sq.m2, was developed by Suzhou Gaoxin Zhongrui Science and Education Ltd., Co. The South Distrit, which is 3.2 sq. m2, was built by Suzhou Wuzhong Education Investment Ltd., Co.. The whole Park is built by the side of Shangfang Hill at Shihu Lake Resort Area. It is a historical and cultural area with special natural environment. When the park was planned, the integration and harmonization of the Education Park and nature was taken into consideration. The Plan keeps the beautiful scenery of Shihu Lake and Shangfang Hill to make the Park a university town with the harmonized developing of education, science & technology, culture and tourism, which can be futher explored, sustainable developed.
Suzhou International Education Park is oriented at a qualified and practical human resource training center by mainly higher vocational education, an education experimental area with shared resources and open operation, a model area of international integration and Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run schools, a cultural tourism area with the combination of modern education and traditional culture.
Suzhou International Education Park was first inhabited by 5 schools and colleges, which are University of Science and Technology of Suzhou (South Campus), Wenzheng College of Suzhou University, Jiangsu Foreign Language School, Blue Tassel School and Language Training College. In year 2004, 4 more joined in. Now there are 9 schools and colleges, around 30 thousand teachers and students in the Park, which are University of Science and Technology of Suzhou, Wenzheng College of Suzhou University, Suzhou College, Suzhou Institute of Industrial Technology, Suzhou Institute of Tourism and Finance Professional College, Suzhou Vocational Technology College of Construction and Communication, Jiangsu Foreign Language School, Blue Tassel School and Suzhou Language Training College.