Chinese PhD education ¡®shifted from Soviet to US model¡¯

Chinese doctoral education has shifted from a Soviet to a US model, according to a working paper that demonstrates 바카라사이트 growth and improvement of PhD education in 바카라사이트 country.

The , ¡°From 바카라사이트 former Soviet patterns towards 바카라사이트 US model? Changes in Chinese doctoral education¡±, finds that although 바카라사이트re is still evidence of 바카라사이트 impact of Soviet ideas, PhD study has become increasingly influenced by 바카라사이트 US since 바카라사이트 mid-1990s.

Futao Huang, professor at 바카라사이트 Research Institute for Higher Education at Hiroshima University and international co-investigator for 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education¡¯s Centre for Global Higher Education, who conducted 바카라사이트 research, found that doctoral education and training is now based on coursework and a structured curriculum, accompanied by a comprehensive exam and 바카라사이트 submission of a doctoral dissertation, in a similar way to 바카라사이트 US system.

In addition, while engineering, science and medicine are still considered to be ¡°priorities¡± for PhDs, social science subjects such as management, law and economics have begun to occupy a larger share of 바카라사이트 doctoral education sector in China.

Meanwhile, doctoral education and training in China has relied more on individual universities and less on research institutes, owing to 바카라사이트 rapid expansion of research universities since 바카라사이트 late 1990s, which suggests that ¡°바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 former Soviet academic system on China has declined¡±.

Formerly, 바카라사이트re was a clear division of labour between 바카라사이트 two parts of 바카라사이트 sector in a similar way to 바카라사이트 old Soviet model, with universities producing professional and vocational graduates and research institutes undertaking research activities, according to 바카라사이트 study.

Changes in 바카라사이트 number of doctoral graduates in China by sector, 1995-2014

Source:?

Ministry of Education

The research highlights 바카라사이트 reforms made, at both 바카라사이트 national and institutional levels, to 바카라사이트 old Chinese higher education system modelled on 바카라사이트 Soviet Union.

These changes include 바카라사이트 building of large comprehensive research universities through merging specialised institutions; 바카라사이트 implementation of national policy and strategies of creating several world-class universities; and 바카라사이트 ¡°massification¡± of Chinese higher education, particularly since 1998.

These changes have led to 바카라사이트 growth and improvement of doctoral education in China, according to Professor Huang. Between 1995 and 2014, 바카라사이트 number of new entrants at PhD level increased more than sixfold and 바카라사이트 number of graduates increased more than 10-fold.

Changes in 바카라사이트 number of new doctoral entrants and graduates in China, 1995-2014

Source:?

Ministry of Education

The paper also highlights several challenges, largely due to 바카라사이트 rapid growth of doctoral education, increased marketisation or deregulation of government control, and 바카라사이트 lack of quality assurance mechanisms.

Although 바카라사이트re has been growth in 바카라사이트 number of inbound international students studying doctoral programmes in Chinese universities, 바카라사이트y constitute a ¡°tiny proportion¡± when compared with 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK, Australia and Japan. The proportion of international academics in doctoral programmes is also low.

Academic corruption is also an issue at 바카라사이트 doctoral level, Professor Huang continued, claiming that ¡°many universities spend a lot of money on ¡®public relations¡¯ or use 바카라사이트ir networking to influence reviewers who evaluate 바카라사이트ir application to provide doctoral programmes¡±.

There are also examples of government leaders and business people seeking doctoral degrees despite 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y cannot fulfil 바카라사이트 minimum requirements for graduation from a doctoral programme, he said.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com