Universities in China change course to meet government’s need for hi-tech workforce

President Xi Jinping leads the call for more trained-up professionals in AI, circuitry, quantum tech, cybersecurity and other hi-tech areas

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China seeks to expand its hi-tech workforce, in both worker numbers and expertise, as part of a drive to be self-reliant in technology and underpin an innovation-driven economy. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 10:00am, 23 Aug 2024

More than a dozen Chinese universities are overhauling their engineering and technology majors in favour of hi-tech areas such as AI and big data to answer a government call for more talent.

By July 31, a total of 19 universities had suspended or completely removed 99 majors, news portal The Paper reported on Thursday, citing its own tally.

For example, Sichuan University was considering removing 31 majors, including animation, acting and applied physics, and setting up a new major in biomass science and engineering, the report said.

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The university said the major would replace “light chemical engineering” amid hopes it would not only support traditional industries such as tanning and papermaking, but would adapt to future needs of the emerging biomass industry.

This move follows requests from the Ministry of Education to “adjust structures of university majors and talent-training schemes to better serve China’s modernisation”.

Last month, a ministry document said it supported efforts by universities to cultivate talent in key areas, including manufacturing of integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, life sciences and energy.

According to a research paper from the Wuhan-based Huazhong University of Science and Technology last month, the biggest changes to academic courses in the past decade have been in engineering majors.

Official data shows that from 2013 to 2022, the number of engineering majors in universities across China increased by 7,566. There were also 96 new areas of study, including robotics, AI and big data.