China’s universities have revoked or suspended 12,200 undergraduate degree programs and introduced 10,200 new ones between 2021 and 2025 as the country reshapes higher education for the AI era.
The cuts were concentrated in arts, humanities, foreign languages, and management programs that officials increasingly view as outdated or oversaturated.
More than 30% of China’s university programs were adjusted during the overhaul, according to Ministry of Education data cited by Xinhua.
Many of the new programs focus on AI, robotics, and embodied intelligence as Beijing pushes to become a global leader in future technologies.
The changes come as China faces a graduate employment crisis, with more than 16% of young people unemployed.
Author: Saikat Bhattacharya
