BEIJING, Dec. 22-- Eight Chinese government-financed universities on Thursday set a precedent by recruiting presidents and chief accountants from both China and abroad.

The universities, directly administered by the Ministry of Education (MOE), released recruitment advertisements through the ministry's official website.

Beijing Normal University and the Chengdu-based Southwest University of Finance and Economics advertised two vacancies for university presidents, and another six institutions -- Southwest University, Shandong University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the Central Academy of Drama, Northeastern University and Ocean University of China -- are recruiting chief accountants.

Although the statement said the posts were open to people from home and overseas, it specified that the applicants for university presidents should be Chinese citizens without perminant residential rights in foreign countries, and should have been in charge of Chinese universities before.

Candidates for chief accountant positions should have rich experience in finance, accountancy or auditing.

The application deadline is Dec. 31, it said.

All applicants should complete an online registration, a speech and an opinion poll. Those chosen for positions will have a one-year trial period, the statement said.