36% of Chinese Undergraduates Choose Engineering, Compared To 5% in US and UK

In 2022, 36% of Chinese undergraduate entrants, approximately 1.6 million students, chose to pursue engineering degrees, a significant increase from 32% in 2010. This surge is driven by the Chinese government's directive for universities to focus on strategic industries and technological advancements. In contrast, only around 5% of undergraduate entrants in Britain and America opt for engineering degrees. China's universities are now offering undergraduate programs in artificial intelligence, a field the Communist Party aims to dominate by 2030. The education ministry has introduced an "emergency mechanism" to create degrees more quickly to meet national priorities. Over half of China's young people complete some form of higher education through the country's 3,000-odd institutions. The high youth unemployment rate, which reached 14.9% in May, is also driving students towards technical fields that are perceived to offer better job prospects. The Chinese government is pushing universities to overhaul their degree programs to meet national needs. This shift in focus is expected to have a significant impact on China's workforce and economy. The country's emphasis on technical education is likely to shape its future development and global competitiveness.