Mr Hu, who teaches the class, Psychology of Love at Zhejiang Gongshang University. Photo: The Paper

Zhejiang Gongshang University has opened a new general elective course — Psychology of Love, in semester of 2022. More than 1,600 students scrambled for the 50 seats and the classroom was filled half an hour before the lesson began, with students even broadcasting and recording the lectures.

"Being in a relationship requires learning. I'm not going to teach my students how to find a Mr Right, but I hope that through this course, students can develop mature personalities, learn how to get along with each other, and have more happiness in love and intimate relationships," Mr Hu, who teaches the class, told the media on Monday.

Since Hu entered the school in 2015, he has been working as a counseling psychologist for students. In his work, Hu found that most students struggle with issues that had to do with love and relationships.

During lessons, Hu interacts with the students. Sometimes he instructs students to role-play as romantic partners in order to learn how to deal with relationship conflicts and improve emotional intelligence among other things. 

"Prevention of emotional manipulation of 'Pick-up Artist' (PUA) is very important for students to establish a correct view of love and marriage, but also to avoid harm," Hu said.