BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Three students of Anhui University in eastern China's Anhui Province were appointed assistant presidents on Friday, in the university's efforts to enhance management democracy and broaden communication channels with students.

    Lu Lidong, graduate student of the Law School, Liu Fengyi, junior in the Department of Politics and Tao Yuanhao, junior of the School of Management beat hundreds of other applicants after several rounds of competitions, including a seven-minute lecture and a "question and answer" session, according to the Beijing News.

    Huang Dekuan, president with Anhui University said "the main purposes of appointing student assistant presidents are enhancing the communication between the university and its students, managing the university in a more democratic way and cultivating student's leadership capability."

    He said the student assistant presidents will be responsible for collecting student's suggestions on management practices at the university management, participate in drafting and amending the university's regulations, and assist the president to deal with student issues.

    An official with the university said the three students are entitled to attend meetings of the university president and vice-presidents as nonvoting delegates, said the Beijing News.

    The assistant presidents will have an office with phones and computers, and will be provided the documents and materials concerning all the university's departments.

    Anhui University is a provincial key university.