The difference between the two is mainly in the level. The universities jointly established by the provincial people's government and the Ministry of Education include 2 1 1, 985 and other projects, and there is no difference in essence.

Universities jointly established by provinces and departments are:

Refers to the institutions of higher learning jointly established by relevant ministries and commissions of the State Council (Ministry of Education and other national ministries and commissions) and relevant provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government and autonomous regions. Mainly divided into four categories:

First, the Ministry of Education and local governments jointly established the 985 Engineering University to build a first-class domestic and internationally renowned high-level university. The central ministries and commissions encouraged local governments to support the development plans of relevant universities.

Second, the Ministry of Education and various industry departments have jointly established some national 2 1 1 engineering universities with high level in various industries. The purpose of co-construction is to guide these characteristic universities to expand social cooperation, strengthen social services, build a more stable and lasting cooperative relationship among all parties, and play an important role in the construction of high-level universities.

Third, some powerful provincial universities and local governments, the Ministry of Education and other ministries and commissions jointly run schools, expand development funds and resources, and build high-level universities with strong comprehensive strength, high school-running level and certain influence in the country. To this end, the Ministry of Education has set up a joint research center of the Ministry of Education, which is directly led by the University Work Office directly under the Ministry of Education and based on the joint construction of the Ministry of Education. In addition, the Ministry of Education also recruits these universities to attend some meetings of universities directly under the Ministry of Education.

Fourth, provincial key universities jointly established by local governments and other national ministries and commissions other than the Ministry of Education. These universities have a strong faculty and scientific research foundation in one or more industries. Ministries and commissions have strengthened their support for these universities, and signed agreements with local provinces and cities to actively develop strong disciplines, improve their comprehensive strength, and build a number of high-level universities with great influence in the industry.

2 1 1 Project (Project 2 1 1) University:

In order to face the 2 1 century and meet the challenge of the world's new technological revolution, China municipal government has concentrated the efforts of the central and local governments to build about 100 institutions of higher learning and a number of key disciplines and majors, so as to reach the level of world-class universities [1].

"2 1 1 Project" is the largest key construction project in the field of higher education officially approved by the state since the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is also the development plan of higher education and the reform project of higher education system proposed by the state during the ninth five-year plan period.