Summary

Earlier this year, the Department of Higher Education of China’s Ministry of Education announced 612 projects in “emerging engineering studies”, including both practical training projects and research into education in these fields. According to the announcement, the goal is to develop these disciplines at Chinese HEIs in order to nurture new engineering science and technology talents in emerging fields and to promote interdisciplinary links.

The projects include 202 comprehensive projects and 410 subject-specific projects into disciplines including artificial intelligence, data science, smart manufacturing and robotics, among other fields. The majority of these projects will be located at China’s leading universities.

This focus on emerging engineering subjects has been reflected in the university places available for students entering university in the 2018/19 academic year. Local media have reported on a rise in newly opened disciplines related to this field, including South China University of Technology in Guangzhou’s new interdisciplinary “new engineering” programme which covers areas including Big Data, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Genetic Engineering, while many universities have opened new Data Science and Big Data programmes.

In related news, experts from 26 Chinese universities including Tsinghua University, Nanjing University and Xi’an Jiaotong University have worked together to produce a document titled “Suggestions for Establishing Artificial Intelligence Majors”. This document sets out suggestions for education, research, industry connections, and enhancing students' innovative ability and entrepreneurial awareness. According to research from the Institute of Artificial Intelligence of Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, at least 25 Chinese universities plan to set up new artificial intelligence programmes this year.

Analysis by Kevin Prest, Senior Analyst of International Education Services

These developments further underline the importance of cutting-edge engineering subjects, including artificial intelligence and subjects which support China’s industrial strategies such as “Made in China 2025” which aims to develop the country’s high-end manufacturing sector. UK universities looking to cooperate with their Chinese counterparts are likely to find particularly strong collaboration opportunities in these subject areas, while increasing Chinese enrolment in these fields at the undergraduate level might lead to an increase in potential mobile postgraduate students in the coming few years.

Sources

1. Ministry of Education: Announcement of projects in emerging engineering studies (in Chinese): http://www.moe.edu.cn/srcsite/A08/s7056/201803/t20180329_331767.html

2. CHSI: An introduction to subject areas within “emerging engineering studies” (in Chinese): http://gaokao.chsi.com.cn/gkzt/xgk    

3. Xinhua: News on newly established subject areas (in Chinese): http://www.xinhuanet.com/2018-07/03/c_1123069782.htm

4. Xinhua: News on suggestions for establishing new artificial intelligence programmes (in Chinese): http://www.xinhuanet.com/2018-07/10/c_1123101216.htm

5. British Council International Education Services: Previous news on China’s AI education strategy: https://education-services.britishcouncil.org/news/market-news/china-issues-detailed-action-plan-ai-development-of-chinese-universities