‘Everyone can attend university’: China unveils sweeping higher education reform

China has unveiled an overhaul of its university system, urging institutions to develop distinct roles as demographic change, a tighter job market and industrial upgrading alter the country’s skills needs.

The general offices of the ruling Communist Party’s Central Committee as well as the State Council, China’s cabinet, jointly issued guidelines for higher education reform, state news agency Xinhua reported on September 20.

The document said universities must adapt to “changing trends in the school-age population”. It urged institutions to pursue differentiated development, build more integrated forms of higher education and explore new ways to train future innovators.

In particular, Beijing called for universities to develop distinct roles. High-level research universities will be expected to support major national strategies, while industry-specific institutions must strengthen their capacity to serve the real economy.