The Shenzhen Universiade International Scholarship Foundation (SUISF), the first public foundation in China designed for backing overseas students, was set up here on Saturday.

It was also the first time for a scholarship fundation to be launched in the name of Universiade.

SUISF mainly assists foreign students to come to China, Chinese students to go abroad for further education, and take active part in public welfare activities.

Eleven students home and abroad became the first batch of beneficiaries.

At the opening ceremony of World University Presidents Forum here on Saturday, Xu Qin, the mayor of Shenzhen, awarded the funding certificate to six students. Among them, five are from Belarus, Brazil, Cameroon, Morocco and Thailand, and the other one is from China.

Zou Dujian, the Chinese student from Shenzhen Institute of Harbin Industrial University, will go abroad for doctor's degree at New York State University.

"These students all participated in the Shenzhen Universiade, as a torch bearer, or as a volunteer," said Wang Rong, the vice president of the Shenzhen Universiade Organizing Committee.

Wang noted SUISF would maintain a sustainable development by seeking support from government funding, attracting voluntary donations, as well as obtaining deposit interests and investment benefits.