Technology-Focused Education Policies in China Squeeze the Humanities
China’s rapid advancement in high technology and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields has begun to negatively impact humanities programmes at universities across the country. In recent years, many institutions have prioritised departments such as artificial intelligence, engineering and technology, leading to a significant reduction in student admissions to humanities courses. This policy shift has sparked a wider debate about the role and value of the humanities in society.
Professor Wang Jun, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at Zhejiang University—one of China’s oldest and most prestigious institutions—warned that a narrow focus on short-term economic goals could, in the long run, undermine the country’s cultural diversity and critical thinking capacity.
Other experts echoed this sentiment, arguing that technological progress does not diminish the relevance of the humanities. On the contrary, they stressed the growing importance of interdisciplinary approaches. The decision by Fudan University, one of China’s top institutions, to downsize its humanities departments has further intensified this ongoing debate.
Education specialists agree that competencies such as ethics, cultural understanding and communication skills remain crucial in the midst of technological transformation.
Click here for the source
