Action star Jackie Chan (right) and actress Xu Fan pose with Xu's letter of appointment as visiting professor at the launch of the Jackie Chan Film and Television Academy in Wuhan, Hubei province on May 20. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Chan appointed his friends, including actor Zhang Guoli, actress Li Bingbing, director Feng Xiaogang and his wife and actress Xu Fan to act as visiting professors of his new school.

He also expressed willingness to employ more professional film workers to teach students not only in classrooms but through hands-on experience on the set. Exchange programmes with foreign academies are also planned.

This is the first time Jackie Chan has taken on the role of dean, and also the first time he's collaborated with a university on the Chinese mainland.

To date, the institute offers undergraduate programs in animation, performance and digital media.

At the launch ceremony, Chan said foreign crews and directors were often employed to produce films. As someone who has cultivated the talents of his fellow stunt people until they became martial arts directors and choreographers, Chan said he hopes to do the same with his students.