Forbes: Chinese Universities Massively Phase Out Outdated Courses

According to a June 28 report by Forbes (Japanese edition): China is advancing the most fundamental reform in higher education in its modern history, focusing on cutting over 10,000 undergraduate programs deemed "outdated," and rapidly replacing them with courses related to cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Between 2021 and 2025, 12,200 undergraduate degree programs at Chinese universities were canceled or suspended from recruitment. At the same time, 10,200 new undergraduate programs were established. More than 30% of courses offered by Chinese universities have been affected by curriculum restructuring and replacement.

The focus of course reductions has centered on humanities, arts, foreign languages, and certain business administration fields. The canceled programs are considered "outdated."

In contrast, China encourages universities to expand their offerings in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductor engineering, and advanced manufacturing leveraging AI—fields that are central to China’s industrial policy.

This move reflects two key factors driving transformation in China’s higher education system.

The first is China’s determination to become a global leader in advanced technology. Artificial intelligence has become a national strategic priority. The government has invested heavily in research, semiconductor development, automation, and advanced manufacturing. Universities are increasingly positioned as integral parts of these industrial strategies.

The second factor is that over 12 million students graduate from Chinese universities annually, yet many struggle to find jobs in fields related to their majors. Therefore, policymakers believe universities must respond more swiftly to labor market demands and guide students toward tech sectors with sustainable growth potential.

The ongoing university reforms in China stand in stark contrast to those in U.S. higher education.

In the United States, universities facing financial pressures are increasingly implementing course cuts, hiring freezes, and even layoffs. The main reasons include declining enrollment, demographic shifts, reduced international student numbers, and fiscal deficits.

China’s large-scale reforms stem from fundamentally different motivations than those in the U.S. China’s reforms are not aimed at cost-cutting but rather at rethinking the allocation of educational resources and prioritizing development areas in line with national strategy. As a result, there is no overall reduction in higher education; instead, there is a massive reallocation of university education and research resources aligned with national economic priorities.

This difference also reflects the distinct roles governments play in higher education. In China, the central government holds broad supervisory authority over universities and can shape educational and research priorities through national policies and funding allocations. By contrast, U.S. universities enjoy greater autonomy in management, and the courses they offer are determined not by national strategy but by university leadership, faculty, boards of directors, state governments, and market demand.

It remains uncertain whether China’s policy shift will succeed. However, its rapid restructuring of higher education to align with national priorities highlights the growing role of universities in enhancing national economic competitiveness.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869228749549577/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.