Fourteen key universities in the west refer to Shihezi University, Qinghai University, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Northwest Normal University, Yunnan University, Ningxia University, Northwest University, Guizhou University, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Chongqing Medical University, Guangxi University, Tibet University, Xinjiang University and Yanbian University.

In June, 20001year, the Ministry of Education decided to implement "counterpart support for universities in the western region" during the Tenth Five-Year Plan period, focusing on the construction of 14 universities in the western region.

"Quickly improve the overall level of these 14 institutions of higher learning and the ability of western universities to serve local economic construction and social development in order to meet the needs of western development." This is an important measure for the Ministry of Education to implement the strategy of developing the western region.