The University of Groningen in the Netherlands is to set up a new campus in Yantai, Shandong province, Dazhong Daily reported on Wednesday.

Yantai Groningen University will be jointly run by the Yantai government, China Agricultural University and the University of Groningen.

According to the agreement officially signed on Monday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the university will operate as an independent legal entity and has the right to grant academic degrees.

Listed as a research-oriented school, the university will develop five research centers, of which those for new materials, molecular life sciences and human health will be established in the first stage.

The university is expected to enroll students next year. The University of Groningen will initially send 37 teachers to the new campus.