Chinese Higher Education An Increasing Access to Higher Education in China
What are your preconceived notions concerning higher education in China?
Early Higher Education • 1895: establishment of China’s first modern institutionPeiyang University, became Tianjin University in 1951 • 1896 to 1949: Chinese higher education system based on Western university model • 1949: after formation of People’s Republic of China, China took up Soviet model • Under Soviet model, universities were converted from comprehensive schools to singledisciplinary institutions which offered more majors within a specific discipline
Reforms in Higher Education in China • China returned to comprehensive university system in 1990s • China has begun merging colleges and universities to create larger, more comprehensive institutions • Largest merger is Zhejiang University which combined Zhejiang Agricultural, Zhejiang Medical, and Hangzhou Universities • 19962000: 387 colleges and universities merged into 212
Zhejiang University
Reforms continued • Economic prosperity in 1980s led to largescale higher education reforms • China received funding from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) • 1998: Chinese government selected ten universities to become “worldclass”; includes Peking and Tsinghua Universities • Toward this end, in 1998 the Chinese government decided to increase funding for higher education by 1% each year for five years following 1998 • 2001: reforms allow students 25 and older and students who are married take the entrance exam; these students were previously ineligible
More Reforms • Other specific reforms include developing private institutions, adjusting governance of universities, instating a tuition, and eliminating guaranteed job placement • 2001: Ministry of Education approved 89 private institutions to award degrees • “Twolevel education provision system”: central government shares governing of universities with local governments (provincial bureaus) • Universities are now led by presidents who are elected • 2002: in Beijing, tuition and fees ranged from 4,200 to 6,000 yuan ($525$750) per year
National College Entrance Examination • Due to China’s enormous population, students must still compete to receive higher education • NCEE reinstated in 1977 after being abolished during Cultural Revolution; celebrated by the Chinese people • Provides basis for career placement • 2003: 20 universities allowed to evaluate students by their own standards; capped at 5% of student body • 2009: 78 universities given autonomy in selecting students; cap increased to 10% for some schools • Autonomous enrollment consists of written test and interview; allows students to apply at several colleges simultaneously • NCEE purported to be far easier now than 20 years ago
NCEE
Results of Reforms • In 2008, 52% of Chinese university candidates could be accepted while in 1981 only 2.4% could • Total enrollment in colleges and universities increased from 6.43 million in 1998 to 12.14 million in 2001 • A good education is a top priority for Chinese families; with these reforms higher education is becoming available to more and different people • As of 2005, China has entered the stage of popular education with a gross enrollment in higher education of 21%
International Outlook • Currently around 200,000 international students studying in China • Many international professors • China sends more students to study abroad than any other nation • Around 50,000 Chinese students studying in United States which makes up ten percent of international students • As of 2007, China became the sixth largest host nation to foreign students
Realities of Chinese Higher Education • Universities’ and colleges’ campuses have grown and become more comfortable and attractive • Campuses include dormitories and dining halls • Students often live in a dorm rooms that house three students • Classes take place any time between 8AM and 10PM; students take as many as 7 or 8 classes per semester • Chinese institutions have become more technological; students can access grades online, explore rankings, and take online classes • Students now have weekends off and have time to participate in sports and clubs
Peking University
Sources • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_education_in_China • From the Imperial Examination to the National Collge Entrance Examination by Yuan Feng • http://english.cri .cn/7146/2009/01/29/1901s448416.htm • Chinese Education Enters a New Era by XinRan Duan http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Br • ief/192131.htm