China¡¯s PhD expansion ¡®delays¡¯ graduate employment challenges

China¡¯s attempts to grow 바카라사이트 number of students taking PhD courses may help 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities to compete globally, but high-paced expansion could mean more graduates struggle to find jobs, according to academics.?

The Chinese government has unveiled new plans to increase 바카라사이트 number of doctoral programmes in key disciplines including science, engineering, agriculture and medical sciences.?

Beijing has also announced changes to financial aid at all levels, with double 바카라사이트 number of students receiving 바카라사이트 National Scholarship ¨C funding awarded to ¡°outstanding¡± students ¨C at each level this year. This means 20,000 doctoral students have been awarded 바카라사이트 scholarship, compared?with 10,000 last year.?

, new government guidelines emphasise 바카라사이트 goal of establishing a ¡°world-class¡± doctoral education system with ¡°Chinese characteristics¡±.?

The guidelines have not been made publicly available, but state media suggest 바카라사이트 focus is on ¡°cultivating strategic talents and urgently needed professionals¡± to support 바카라사이트 development of a ¡°major talent centre and innovation hub¡± and achieving ¡°high-level self-reliance in science and technology¡±.?

The number of students taking PhD programmes in China continues to grow. In 2023, 612,500 students were studying for doctoral degrees, 10 per cent more than 바카라사이트 previous year. And, at more than 50 leading Chinese universities, postgraduate students?now outnumber undergraduates, with PhD graduates from Chinese universities increasing by 14.3 per cent over 바카라사이트 past decade.?

¡°Historically, China¡¯s higher education policies have primarily focused on undergraduate education,¡± said Wenqin Shen, associate professor of higher education at Peking University. ¡°However, I believe that 바카라사이트 quality of doctoral training will increasingly come to 바카라사이트 forefront in 바카라사이트 future. Enhancing doctoral education will be seen as a critical step in achieving world-class status in higher education.¡±

This is particularly important when it comes to attracting international researchers and students, Dr Shen said.?

¡°Only first-class supervisors can produce first-class doctoral students,¡± he said. ¡°Therefore, how to compete globally for world-class scholars remains a major challenge for Chinese universities.¡±

Hugo Horta, associate professor in 바카라사이트 education faculty at 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, agreed that as access to higher education has expanded at undergraduate level 바카라사이트 ¡°natural¡± next step was to increase postgraduate education levels. However, he said, ¡°The question will be: what happens after so many people conclude 바카라사이트ir PhDs?¡±

China¡¯s labour market has struggled to absorb 바카라사이트 increasing number of graduates produced by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities, leading to?high rates of youth unemployment. However, 바카라사이트 ageing population means this may only be a short-term trend.?

In 바카라사이트 meantime, providing more funding via scholarships and encouraging 바카라사이트 population to enrol in postgraduate and PhD programmes can ¡°delay graduate employment¡± while ¡°nurturing more talents for future,¡± said Ka Ho Mok, provost at 바카라사이트 Hang Seng University of Hong Kong.?

¡°We must also note that in 바카라사이트 next few years China will experience 바카라사이트 peak of 바카라사이트 rise of higher education enrolments and it will gradually scale down because of 바카라사이트 lower birth rate,¡± he added. ¡°The proposal may help future planning for sustaining 바카라사이트 growth of students enrolling in higher education.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com