BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Emerging disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data and new energy are offering international students in China a broader and more sophisticated range of academic choices, according to a report released by Xinhua Institute, which is affiliated with Xinhua News Agency, on Saturday.
The report, titled “Study in China: Contributing to the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity,” highlights an alignment between international curricula and socio-economic development, providing students with highly practical career paths.
By launching high-demand programs at the forefront of academic and social progress, Chinese universities have aligned their curricula with industrial demands, the report noted.
Leveraging China’s decade-long experience in technological innovation, poverty alleviation and rapid urbanization, institutions have also introduced specialized disciplines like development economics for developing nations and Belt and Road studies.
The report suggests that the academic landscape has shifted from a model of “studying what is available” to “studying exactly what one seeks.”
“China’s emerging engineering education has taught me to synthesize marine theory with AI and big data analytics,” said Marc Yeo Zhi Yii, a Malaysian student at Tianjin University’s School of Marine Science and Technology in north China’s Tianjin Municipality.
Yeo, who is enrolled in the ASEAN Specialized Undergraduate Class in Marine Technology, added that the interdisciplinary approach has significantly expanded his professional horizons.
The program is tailored to the marine industry needs of China and ASEAN member states, focusing on marine resource development and environmental governance. Such new engineering curricula have successfully cultivated a large number of specialized professionals, the report said. ■
