The 2025 National Science and Technology Backyard Conference was held on Thursday in Handan, Hebei province, aiming to strengthen the integrated development of education, science, and talent through the innovative STB model.

Launched in Hebei's Quzhou county in 2009 by Zhang Fusuo, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the program aims to bring scientific knowledge directly into the fields and find practical solutions for farmers.

Du Jiangfeng, vice-minister of education, said STBs are not only vital platforms for graduate student training but also arenas for tackling agricultural and rural challenges.

So far, 1,800 STBs have been established by 157 educational institutions nationwide. China has also built 14 international STBs in 11 countries, including Tanzania and Brazil.

These backyards have been model classrooms for professional degree training, boosters for scientific innovation, and new methods for agricultural extension, contributing to the country's rural vitalization, Du said.

He added that the establishment and management of backyards must be better regulated to ensure quality.

The quality monitoring standards for training STB graduate students were released in late April, requiring each graduate to receive no less than 1,800 yuan ($250) per month in subsidies, while each STB must have an annual operating budget of no less than 200,000 yuan.

Guo Xin, vice-dean of China Agricultural University's Graduate School, said each STB should have at least three graduate students, including two agricultural professional degree candidates. Each student needs to stay no fewer than 120 days per year, and advisors are required to visit the backyards at least three times annually or stay a minimum of 30 days in total, she said.

An exhibition showcasing STB achievements was held concurrently, with participants touring the cluster in Quzhou to observe firsthand how the model supports integrated educational and scientific development in rural areas.