Summary

China's latest official list of higher education institutions, published on June 30 2020, shows that the number of regular HEIs in the country has increased to 2,740. This number is 52 more than last year, the biggest increase in a decade.

All of the newly-approved HEIs this year were higher vocational colleges, which award three-year diplomas rather than degrees. However, the number of universities also increased as seven existing vocational colleges gained the power to award bachelor's degrees. In total China now has 1,272 bachelor's degree institutions and 1,468 higher vocational colleges.

This increase is an acceleration of a trend that has been apparent for several years. Over the last five years the number of HEIs in China has grown by 180 higher education institutions, including a net increase of 127 higher vocational colleges and 53 universities. As with the 2020 data, most of the new bachelor's degree universities were upgraded from existing higher vocational colleges, many as part of a strategy to transform these colleges into universities of applied technology which award full bachelor's degrees but still focus on more applied fields.

Looking at data by region, the fastest growth has been in central and Western China - the five provinces and regions with the largest net increase over the last five years were Sichuan, Henan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Xinjiang in that order. In comparison China's most developed regions had much slower growth, with Beijing and Tianjin each only adding one HEI and Shanghai actually seeing a net decrease thanks to mergers between different colleges.

In addition to regular HEIs China also has a number of adult-education institutions that are able to award higher education qualifications, largely enrolling part-time and distance learning students. The number of these institutions has decreased slightly over the last few years, falling from 292 in 2015 to 265 in 2020.

Analysis by Kevin Prest, Senior Analyst, British Council International Education Services

As noted in previous articles from the British Council's International Education Services team, China's Ministry of Education is currently investing heavily in expanding its vocational higher education sector - entrants to vocational HE courses increased by more than 30 per cent in 2019 alone. The geographical distribution of new HEIs also shows that China is continuing to commit resources to the development of its relatively poorer central and Western regions.

In comparison to students studying for bachelor's degrees and on postgraduate courses, growth in higher vocational education has relatively less direct impact on UK HEIs. However, there may still be room for UK institutions to build partnerships with Chinese higher vocational colleges.

Sources

1. Ministry of Education: National List of Higher Education Institutions, 2020 - http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xxgk/s5743/s5744/202007/t20200709_470937.html (in Chinese)

2. British Council IES: China's higher education entrance rate exceeds 50 per cent for the first time, boosted by an increase in higher vocational diplomas - https://education-services.britishcouncil.org/news/market-news/chinas-higher-education-entrance-rate-exceeds-50-cent-first-time-boosted-increase