China Retools Its Universities for the New Economy

China is undergoing a significant overhaul of its higher education system, driven by a government mandate to align university offerings with the country’s evolving economic needs. This reform has resulted in the elimination of thousands of degree programs across the nation’s universities, causing widespread uncertainty for professors whose departments have been affected[para. 1]. For the 2025 academic year alone, over 150 universities have proposed canceling traditional majors such as marketing, international trade, and automotive engineering, according to data from MyCOS Research Institute[para. 2].

As these changes take effect, faculty from discontinued programs are forced to seek alternative positions within their institutions—either by transferring to related academic fields, taking up general education courses, or assuming administrative roles. These transitions often lead to pay cuts, loss of professional identity, and unclear prospects for career advancement[para. 3]. Many professors, like Mei Mei from a Beijing university whose foreign language program was recently dissolved, report working under heightened anxiety due to salary reductions and job insecurity[para. 4].

The academic reshuffle is part of a broader national plan issued in 2023 by the Ministry of Education and other authorities, aiming to optimize or close roughly 20% of university degree programs by 2025. Any major failing to enroll new students for five consecutive years faces automatic cancellation[para. 5]. This process has quickened dramatically: in 2024, universities eliminated 1,428 undergraduate programs, compared to just 57 in 2014—a 25-fold increase[para. 6]. The most commonly canceled majors from 2020 to 2024 included information management, public administration, and marketing[para. 7].

Liberal arts, business, and design disciplines are particularly affected, reflecting the weak job prospects for graduates in these fields. Disclosures for 2025 show most proposed cuts concentrated in business administration, foreign languages, and design programs[para. 8]. Faculty like Ren Na, whose university in Fujian stopped enrolling students in the Japanese language major, face uncertain futures, with some retained temporarily while others must find new roles[para. 9]. As associate professor Mao Yufei points out, the employment challenge is especially severe for graduates in liberal arts, economics, and management, prompting universities to double down on their academic strengths[para. 10].

Criteria for program cancellation go beyond job placement rates, incorporating factors such as student interest, faculty qualifications, and research funding competitiveness[para. 11]. Despite widespread eliminations, universities are also rapidly introducing new majors in areas aligned with national priorities such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, and advanced manufacturing. In 2024, 1,839 new degree programs were added, outpacing cancellations[para. 12]. Examples include Shenyang Aerospace University, which plans to introduce programs in low-altitude economy engineering and intelligent aircraft technology while dropping languages and vehicle engineering[para. 13].

Some faculty have successfully transitioned to new roles, especially in technical fields where their expertise remains relevant, as seen at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications[para. 14]. However, those in non-technical disciplines face greater challenges, with limited options for retraining or reassignment[para. 15]. Institutions often ask affected faculty to indicate preferences for new assignments, but these options frequently entail technical support or administrative roles[para. 16]. Attempts by some professors to establish new research centers or university-wide electives have largely failed[para. 17].

Professors whose specialized programs have been cut are often assigned larger general education classes but receive lower pay, leading to job dissatisfaction and concerns over future employment, especially as contracts come up for renewal[para. 18]. Even in programs that remain, enrollments are dwindling, further stoking fears of widespread job loss, particularly among liberal arts faculty[para. 19].

Experts suggest that to weather the transition, academics should pursue interdisciplinary research and enhance skills in digital and AI technologies, while universities must provide strategic planning, faculty training, and counseling support[para. 20][para. 21]. A balanced approach combining top-down strategic direction with bottom-up feedback is recommended to help both institutions and faculty navigate this period of upheaval[para. 22].