Phoenix Publishing and Media Group (PPMG) and Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education signed a deal to further cooperation on smart education on May 6.

With the aim of promoting smart education in the province, both sides agreed to jointly develop digital resources, build online education systems, and facilitate big data services and popularize educational equipment.

Jiangsu wishes to become a leader nationwide in smart education, teaching methods, applications and achievements, according to a proposal by the provincial government in March 2015.

PPMG, which is based in Jiangsu and one of the largest textbook providers in the country, has been dedicated to publishing digitalization since the 12th Five-year Plan period (2011-2015). It has developed a string of high-quality digital products and established a cloud computing center, boasting strong capacity in developing educational software and equipment.

Both sides wished to set out a working mechanism for smart education that benefits the public and is market-oriented as well as promote its coordinated development through the cooperation.

By taking advantage of the powerful educational and scientific strength in Jiangsu, PPMG has compiled 24 textbooks for basic education and 150 for vocational education, which are used by more than 40 million students from 29 provinces and municipalities every year, making Jiangsu a national base for teaching material compiling and publishing.