Its main duties are:

1.To be responsible for the academic education and enrollment exam of the whole province; to draft and implement the enrollment plan for ordinary higher education institutions, adult higher education institutions and postgraduate education together with other departments; to manage student registration of higher and mid¨Clevel academic education; to be responsible for the employment of graduates of higher education institutions; to formulate graduates employment policies; to guide and implement the employment of graduates.

2.To regulate and direct the scientific research in universities; to guide the application study and popularization of high and new technology; to promote the commercialized application of scientific research achievements, especially for high and new technology; to guide the development of provincial key labs and project research centers at higher education institutions; to be responsible for the scientific research in education especially in teaching throughout the province.

3.To regulate the international exchanges and cooperation in the Education Department and its affiliated offices of the province; to dispatch education staff for government-supported overseas education programs, to manage foreigners teaching or studying in the province; to regulate education exchanges and joint cooperation education projects with Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

4.To be responsible for the statistics, analysis and release of basic education information.

5.To implement the state policies on language and character; to draft mid and long-term planning for language and character application; to coordinate,supervise and examine the work of language and character; to guide the popularization of Mandarin and its testing work.

6.To make an overall plan of academic degrees; to draft related documents; to be responsible for the implementation of the state degree system; to undertake the work of the Academic Degree Committee of Zhejiang Province.

7.To regulate schools, units and enterprises directly under the Department of Education; to direct the activities of related social corporations; to be responsible for publicizing education policies and regulations as well as the supervision by the public.

8.To guide school-funded industries, work-study programs, and the socialization of rear service in higher education institutions.

9.To undertake tasks assigned by the Provincial Leading Group of Science, Technology and Education.

10.To undertake other tasks assigned by the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government.