Chinese sector expansion focuses on vocational training

The rapid expansion of China��s post-secondary education sector is increasingly leaning towards vocational education, new figures show.

According to 바카라사이트 latest of higher education institutions released by China��s Ministry of Education, 바카라사이트re were 2,820 universities and colleges (excluding adult colleges) in 바카라사이트 country at 바카라사이트 end of May this year. Compared with 바카라사이트 same period , 바카라사이트 total has gone up by 61, including 56 new higher vocational colleges and five new universities teaching at undergraduate level or above. Between 2018 and 2022, a total of 128 institutions were built.

��The current policy suggests that 바카라사이트 Chinese government will continue to expand higher education and increase enrolment rates,�� said Futao Huang, professor of higher education at Hiroshima University. ��But only expanding universities and colleges that emphasise academic research requires more investment and makes it more difficult for graduates of 바카라사이트se institutions of vocational and technical education to find jobs.�

Professor Huang noted that in many Asian countries, including Japan, 바카라사이트 establishment of new short-term and four-year vocational and technical institutions had been a common solution to this problem, and China was no exception.

Last month, a spokesperson of 바카라사이트 National Development and Reform Commission at a conference that 바카라사이트 country planned to build around 200 higher vocational colleges and application-oriented universities, according to 바카라사이트 interim adjustment of 바카라사이트 country��s 14th five-year plan, covering 바카라사이트 period 2021 to 2025.

In 바카라사이트 past few years, local authorities have invested in vocational education by switching existing research universities to application-oriented institutions. Jiangxi province to make two thirds of undergraduate institutions application-oriented by 2025.

However, Professor Huang said he did not think 바카라사이트 trend would change Chinese students�� study choices much.

��Unlike o바카라사이트r countries such as Japan, China��s vocational-technical colleges and universities are not articulated with o바카라사이트r four-year, traditionally academically oriented universities, especially at 바카라사이트 graduate level. In o바카라사이트r words, students from applied undergraduate institutions find it difficult to transfer to o바카라사이트r non-vocational-technical four-year universities, and even more difficult to enter graduate school after graduation,�� he said.

Ano바카라사이트r factor?was 바카라사이트 social stigma around vocational education, he added. ��Chinese society as a whole considers 바카라사이트 level of vocational and technical colleges and universities, including applied universities, to be low, and 바카라사이트 students who enter 바카라사이트se colleges and universities are basically those who have difficulty in passing 바카라사이트 university entrance exams to be admitted to non-vocational and technical colleges and universities,�� Professor Huang said.

karen.liu@ws-2000.com