Master's degree craze in China

'碩士文憑熱'蔓延職場

The enthusiasm for part-time academic diplomas has been growing among China's young professionals, the China Youth Daily reported. Statistics from the Ministry of Education show 17,023 master's degrees were awarded to people at work in 2003 and the number increased by 4 times in 2008, reaching 85,196. Scholars say the craze has 2 reasons: the expansion of postgraduate education and the spreading belief of "lifelong learning."

據《中國青年報》報道，近年來在職攻讀研究生學位的熱潮蔓延。教育部的數據顯示，2003年國家一共授予17023人在職人員碩士學位，2008年達到85196人，5年間增長了4倍。對于當下在職"讀研熱"，有學者認為，一方面是近年來全國研究生教育的擴招為在職人士提供了機會，另一方面，是不少人開始意識到"終身學習"的重要性。

*以上新聞由ChinaDaily雙語手機報提供