In a surprising trend, Chinese universities are actively encouraging their undergraduate students to pursue postgraduate degrees, even as concerns mount over an oversupply of postgraduates and rising youth unemployment rates.
Recent reports indicate that several institutions across China have been holding “graduate school motivation meetings” aimed at inspiring students to apply for advanced degrees. This push comes despite a growing phenomenon where some universities are experiencing a “reversal,” with postgraduate students outnumbering undergraduates.
At Taizhou University’s Marxism School, officials emphasized that future secondary school teachers will primarily need postgraduate qualifications. Meanwhile, the School of Electrical Power at Shenyang Institute of Engineering urged students to consider postgraduate studies as a means to enhance their competitiveness in the job market.
Taking this trend a step further, the vice president of Shandong Taishan University called for mobilizing all undergraduate students to view postgraduate education as a significant opportunity for personal development. The university plans to create a “positive graduate school ecology” through various motivational activities and personalized guidance for aspiring postgraduate students.
To support this initiative, universities are offering an array of incentives, including financial aid, mentorship programs, specialized guidance, and improved study environments for those pursuing advanced degrees.
However, this aggressive promotion of postgraduate education raises questions about its long-term impact on China’s job market and educational landscape, particularly in light of the country’s already high youth unemployment rate and the existing oversupply of postgraduates in certain fields.
As this trend continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how it will affect China’s education system and labor market in the coming years.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), September 22, 2024
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202409220178.aspx