Artificial Intelligence Expansion in Chinese Universities
Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are driving significant changes across Chinese universities. In 2018, only 35 institutions offered undergraduate programmes in AI. Today, that number has soared to 626. Following the government's declaration of AI as a strategic sector, universities have expanded partnerships with industry, updated their curricula, and begun recruiting highly qualified academic staff.
Changsha University of Science and Technology, located in Hunan province, has merged its automation and robotics departments to establish a dedicated Faculty of Artificial Intelligence. The faculty offers an integrated master's and doctoral education model aimed at directly supporting the sector.
Beijing Jiaotong University, meanwhile, has developed AI-based engineering programmes focused on railways and smart transportation systems. Students gain practical experience through projects and competitions designed to enhance applied skills.
However, experts warn that the sector's rapid growth may come at the expense of quality. Some institutions with limited infrastructure and insufficient academic capacity are entering the field prematurely, raising concerns about educational standards. Despite annual salaries ranging between 600,000 and 1 million yuan, the sector continues to struggle with shortages in skilled labour.
Experts emphasise the need to ground AI education in a strong foundation of mathematics and computer science to ensure long-term success and sustainability.
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