LHASA, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- With the completion of a construction project on Tuesday, the Tibet Buddhist Theological Institute is now able to accommodate over 1,000 students.
The institute is located in the township of Nyetang in Quxu County, which is administered by Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. It was built in 2008 and began to receive students in 2011.
The first class of 150 monks, including Living Buddhas and monks from various Tibetan Buddhist sects, graduated from the school in 2013.
The latest project -- the third phase of the school's construction, covers some 43,550 square meters and includes classrooms, an auditorium, library and dormitories.
Zhukang Tubdankezhub, president of the institute, said it is the region's first high-level comprehensive Buddhist academy, which aims at cultivating monks and nuns with a love both for the country and religion.
Dainba Yarphel, 45, has been studying at the academy for one year, and will graduate in three years.
"The environment and conditions here are good. Besides Buddhist scriptures, we also study all kinds of courses including Tibetan language, Mandarin, history, computers and English," he said.
