Air Liquide inaugurates new computer classroom in Yulin, Shaanxi

  • China
  • Volunteering

Air Liquide recently inaugurated its 11th "Air Liquide Computer Classroom" at Tongzhen Primary School in Jiaxian County, Yulin, Shaanxi Province. Air Liquide donated a total of 78 refurbished laptops to the school: 50 to build a computer classroom to help students enhance their digital skills, and 28 for the faculty members to support daily lesson preparation, electronic lesson planning, and online working.

Founded in 1943, Tongzhen Primary School currently has nearly 400 students and staff across 9 classes. In recent years, severely outdated equipment prevented the school from offering standard information technology courses. Meanwhile, a shortage of office computers forced teachers to share a single device. This has hindered teachers' daily work and information-based teaching, and the students’ access to quality online learning resources, which in turn restricts the school's ability to improve its educational quality.

Addressing these challenges, Air Liquide’s donated Computer Classroom and office equipment will empower the school from both the teaching and learning perspectives. To maximize the value of the equipment, Tongzhen Primary School will establish a standardized and routine digital teaching framework:

  • Implementing Basic IT Courses: Formally integrating computer classes into the curriculum for grades 3 through 5, covering fundamental operations, document editing and web searching.

  • Expanding Application Scenarios: Utilizing the computer classroom for after-school programs, club activities, online training and examinations, to comprehensively improve students' digital literacy.

  • Fostering Digital and Innovative Thinking: Advancing digital innovation and AI education by offering introductory courses in basic programming, smart drawing, basic AI knowledge, and hands-on tech practice.

Launched in 2012, the "Air Liquide Computer Classroom" aims to help rural students acquire computer knowledge and skills and support vocational education. To date, Air Liquide has donated 528 refurbished computers to schools and communities in several provinces including Sichuan, Yunnan, Shaanxi and Jiangxi. The computer classroom and e-reading room built in Ya'an, Sichuan in September 2025 recorded 1,686 hours of total usage over its first year, fulfilling diverse needs ranging from daily teaching and lesson preparation to assessments, surveys, and after-school reading. Through systematic instruction, students with zero prior experience have mastered basic skills like text editing and graphic drawing, while gaining introductory exposure to cutting-edge topics like programming and AI, significantly boosting their digital capabilities.

Shaanxi is a strategic foothold for Air Liquide in Northwest China. Since entering the province in 2008 to build large air separation units (ASUs) for local customers, the company went on to invest in its first ASU in Yulin in 2011. Over the years, closely aligning with Shaanxi's strategic positioning as a major national energy and chemical industrial basin, Air Liquide has deepened its presence in key industrial cities like Yulin and Yan'an, supplying safe and reliable gas products and services to local chemical and energy enterprises through pipelines, centralized supply and on-site gas production.

Rui COELHO, CEO of Air Liquide China, said: 

Child education is considered as a long-term investment to make a durable impact in communities via access to education, instructive materials, and a way to educational equity. Through the 'Air Liquide Computer Classroom' program, we hope to open a window for students to explore the wider world, build a bridge to a digital future, and contribute to cultivating the next generation of talents in China.

CAO Jingang, Principal of Tongzhen Primary School, commented: 

The lack of digital equipment has long been a major obstacle to our digital teaching efforts. Air Liquide Computer Classroom is a timely blessing. It not only fulfills our students’ dream of hands-on computer access, but also provides concrete support for our teachers' professional development.