New schools to boost vocational education

China is set to approve 14 new undergraduate higher education institutions, reflecting a shift toward emphasizing vocational education and application-oriented talent development, education experts said on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Education announced plans to establish institutions including the University of Science and Technology in Beijing, Jiuquan Vocational Technical College in Gansu province, and one private university. Public comments on the proposal are invited on the ministry's website until Friday.

Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said the expansion of higher education has slowed as access has grown in recent years. With China's declining birth rate, the country is projected to achieve a 100 percent gross enrollment rate in higher education by 2038, making careful planning essential, Xiong said.

There is a clear trend toward approving vocational and technical universities, aligning with efforts to encourage undergraduate institutions to focus on practical education and workforce-ready skills, he said.

The approval of private universities has also become more selective, with only institutions offering unique programs under consideration.

Fuyao University of Science and Technology in Fuzhou, Fujian province, is the sole private institution among the proposed schools.

Founded with support from the Heren Charitable Foundation, which was established by philanthropist Cao Dewang, Fuyao University aims to become a high-level, research-oriented institution with a focus on science and engineering. It plans to open four undergraduate programs, including materials science and engineering, and currently comprises seven schools.

Wang Shuguo, former president of Xi'an Jiaotong University, was appointed president of Fuyao University in April. During a recent meeting of the Fuyao Group, Wang confirmed plans to begin student admissions this year.

While the university aspires to benchmark itself against Stanford University in the United States, Xiong noted its success will depend on strategic positioning, faculty development and curriculum design.

"Research universities require substantial funding," Xiong said, citing Stanford's annual expenditures exceeding $4 billion.

The Heren Foundation's initial investment of 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) may not be sufficient to sustain a comparable research institution, he added.

Instead, adhering to its original mission as an application-oriented university, as envisioned by Cao in 2017, will be critical to Fuyao University's long-term success.

Xiong also emphasized the need to value vocational and application-oriented universities as equal to research institutions.

"These universities play a vital role in addressing societal needs by focusing on practical skills rather than exclusively serving as pathways to advanced academic degrees," he said.