Source: Global Times
The American "Eurasia Review" website published an article on June 20 with the original title: China on the Fast Track: How Meritocracy and Education are Reshaping Global Power. In a world increasingly characterized by intellectual competition, China's performance-oriented society and Confucian education system are surpassing their stumbling Western counterparts. This is reflected in the steady rise of Chinese universities in global rankings, China's impressive innovation capabilities, and its expanding technological leadership.
As China rises as a scientific powerhouse, its universities and students are transforming the global educational landscape. The most talented Chinese students almost all enter the country's best universities, while wealthier but less academically successful students prefer to study at Western institutions. However, Western universities, once considered the global standard for education, are losing their appeal to Chinese families, even among those who can afford to send their children to Western universities.
Western countries also face deep-seated political and ideological divisions and economic challenges. Against this backdrop, concerns about "potential security risks posed by Chinese students" are growing in the West. Even the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, one of Europe's top scientific institutions, has not been spared from these concerns.
Switzerland is planning further restrictions on "Chinese influence" in this institution and other areas, as well as hiring a large number of American professors. The institute has always been one of the best science and technology universities globally. Meanwhile, Tsinghua University in China continues to rise. In the Academic Ranking of World Universities, Tsinghua ranks higher than the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in the field of Engineering and Technology. The scale and development of Tsinghua University are impressive, and it has increasing influence on the global academic stage.
To understand China's education system, one must understand China's governance philosophy. John Thornton, honorary chairman of the Brookings Institution in the United States, has a unique perspective on this matter. He stated that China operates under a meritocratic technocratic system rooted in its long-standing imperial examination culture, and extraordinary achievements are required to attend elite institutions like Tsinghua University.
Despite suspicions (and suppression) of Chinese students in the West, China treats foreign students in China differently, making efforts to expand global academic exchanges even when potential risks exist. China has also greatly simplified visa processes for short-term and long-term study programs.
China's universities operate in a highly competitive environment, where graduates are not only prepared for domestic positions but also ready to take on leadership roles worldwide. China's dynamic and competitive market has given rise to many world-class enterprises, which naturally benefit from well-educated university graduates. As observed by the Harvard Business Review, many Chinese companies are no longer just catching up; they are now setting global standards.
China's academic institutions are no longer overshadowed by Western academic institutions. Tsinghua University and other Chinese universities are rising in global rankings while helping shape the next generation of global decision-makers. Today, China leads in most technical fields, paying more attention to intellectual property issues than its increasingly lagging Western competitors.
The defensive stance of the West highlights a broader global transformation: in this emerging academic and technological competition, knowledge, rather than ideology, is becoming the most valuable commodity. These are not security threats. On the contrary, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the West. In today's world, where knowledge capital determines power and influence, the West needs to rethink its educational priorities. (Author: Felix Abt, translated by Ding Ding)
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7518169129673671209/
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