Chinese PhD education ‘shifted from Soviet to US model’

Working paper suggests that US influence has led to growth and improvement of China’s doctoral education

January 31, 2017
A worker installs an American flag in front of the portrait of China's late Chairman, Mao Zedong, which hangs on Tiananmen Gate in the centre of Beijing
Source: Reuters

Chinese doctoral education has shifted from a Soviet to a US model, according to a working paper that demonstrates the growth and improvement of PhD education in the country.

The paper, “From the former Soviet patterns towards the US model? Changes in Chinese doctoral education”, finds that although there is still evidence of the impact of Soviet ideas, PhD study has become increasingly influenced by the US since the mid-1990s.

Futao Huang, professor at the Research Institute for Higher Education at Hiroshima University and international co-investigator for the UCL Institute of Education’s Centre for Global Higher Education, who conducted the research, found that doctoral education and training is now based on coursework and a structured curriculum, accompanied by a comprehensive exam and the submission of a doctoral dissertation, in a similar way to the US system.

In addition, while engineering, science and medicine are still considered to be “priorities” for PhDs, social science subjects such as management, law and economics have begun to occupy a larger share of the doctoral education sector in China.

Meanwhile, doctoral education and training in China has relied more on individual universities and less on research institutes, owing to the rapid expansion of research universities since the late 1990s, which suggests that “the impact of the former Soviet academic system on China has declined”.

Formerly, there was a clear division of labour between the two parts of the sector in a similar way to the old Soviet model, with universities producing professional and vocational graduates and research institutes undertaking research activities, according to the study.

Changes in the number of doctoral graduates in China by sector, 1995-2014

Source: 
Ministry of Education

The research highlights the reforms made, at both the national and institutional levels, to the old Chinese higher education system modelled on the Soviet Union.

These changes include the building of large comprehensive research universities through merging specialised institutions; the implementation of national policy and strategies of creating several world-class universities; and the “massification” of Chinese higher education, particularly since 1998.

These changes have led to the growth and improvement of doctoral education in China, according to Professor Huang. Between 1995 and 2014, the number of new entrants at PhD level increased more than sixfold and the number of graduates increased more than 10-fold.

Changes in the number of new doctoral entrants and graduates in China, 1995-2014

Source: 
Ministry of Education

The paper also highlights several challenges, largely due to the rapid growth of doctoral education, increased marketisation or deregulation of government control, and the lack of quality assurance mechanisms.

Although there has been growth in the number of inbound international students studying doctoral programmes in Chinese universities, they constitute a “tiny proportion” when compared with the US, the UK, Australia and Japan. The proportion of international academics in doctoral programmes is also low.

Academic corruption is also an issue at the doctoral level, Professor Huang continued, claiming that “many universities spend a lot of money on ‘public relations’ or use their networking to influence reviewers who evaluate their application to provide doctoral programmes”.

There are also examples of government leaders and business people seeking doctoral degrees despite the fact that they cannot fulfil the minimum requirements for graduation from a doctoral programme, he said.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com

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Reader's comments (1)

Chinese PhD education ‘shifted from Soviet to US model’ Working paper suggests that US influence has led to growth and improvement of China’s doctoral education Both the Title and assumption are misleading and misinforming and misconstruing as if there were only two models in PhD education. It also implies the Soviet model is a failure and the US model is a success. This approach presents some precarious problems: 1.The US has a monopoly of higher education and in the field of cognitive development. 2.The improvement of China’s doctoral education depends entirely on adopting the US model. The US is the only hope for China. 3.The outcome of the US model of PhD education is most desirable and successful. 4.The fruit of the US model of PhD education is completely good. If that is the case why so many PhDs in American government produce the most evil empire in the world and the greatest security threat to many decent nations and peoples? Why so many PhDs produce the most mismanaged government in the world with a national debt exceeding $24 trillion? Why with so many PhDs produce the most costly, fraudulent, and predatory healthcare system in the world? With so many PhDs why produce a democracy in which 1 percent of the population rules over the 99 percent? With so many PhDs why produce the largest income gap in the world? With so many PhDs why produce a legal system that enriches the legal profession at public expense and discrimination and injustice to most Americans? With so many PhDs why produce a partisan politics devoid of competent national leaders who have character, courage, capability and respectability? With so many PhDs why produce a society full of conflict, unrest, high crime rate, destruction, and violence…..? Willie Wong, 10/13/2020 - wongwilliehc@tutanota.com https://williewongthought.hpage.com

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