China is allowing some engineering doctorate students to graduate by building a working invention instead of writing a traditional dissertation.
Under new academic reforms, candidates in selected professional engineering programmes can submit a major practical achievement for their doctorate.
That could include a functioning product, a new manufacturing process, specialised equipment, an engineering design or a completed technical project.
The work still has to be documented, examined and defended before experts.
But instead of judging the student mainly by the number of pages they have written, reviewers can assess whether the invention actually works and solves a real problem.
At the Harbin Institute of Technology, one candidate earned his doctorate after developing advanced laser-welding equipment and processes.
At Southeast University, another defended a modular reinforced-steel system designed to help construct bridge pylons.
China has not abolished PhD dissertations, and the alternative does not apply to every engineering student.
It is a new route for selected professional doctorates where creating something useful may demonstrate expertise better than producing a long academic thesis.
For decades, earning a PhD meant proving you could explain an idea.
China is now allowing some engineers to prove they can build it.
Author: Saikat Bhattacharya
