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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