Chinese universities embrace personalized roommate selection as new semester nears

With the upcoming start of the new school semester, an increasing number of universities in China are adopting innovative strategies to assist students in finding compatible roommates based on shared lifestyle habits.

The Communication University of China in Beijing, for instance, is enabling freshers, as well as new master's and doctoral students within the same major, to choose their prospective dormitory companions.

To streamline this process, the university has developed a mini-program catering to new students, offering them the opportunity to preview dormitory layouts and bed arrangements.

According to a freshman named Yang, the platform empowers students to not only visualize the dormitory's layout and bunk arrangements but also to specify their own daily routines, such as preferences for smoking, sleep patterns, and more. Those who opt out of this process are allocated roommates at random, ensuring fairness in the allocation process.

Yang noted that the introduction of this option prompted freshmen to begin sharing their lifestyle habits within their chat groups.

Similarly, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics has extended a similar program to new postgraduate students, allowing them to participate in the selection of both dormitories and roommates before official registration.

Song Jun, an official within the university's logistics sector, highlighted that this approach acknowledges the diverse nature of student personalities and has garnered positive outcomes since its initiation in 2021.

Song said,"This proactive approach has proven to be highly beneficial in satisfying students' needs, elevating our service quality, and enhancing operational efficiency."

Jiang Aiping, deputy chief of education portal EOL Online, commended these human-centric practices implemented by universities, emphasizing their role in setting a solid foundation for students' academic journeys.

Nonetheless, Jiang also advised students to recognize that handpicking roommates might not entirely eliminate interpersonal conflicts. She noted, "Students who make these choices will learn to navigate the outcomes of their decisions, fostering a sense of tolerance and accountability in the process."