context: Recent intensification of tech strangleholds has given more impetus to developing basic disciplines in higher education. The 2.0 version of the Plan has seen rapid growth, and the new initiative aims to tie higher education closer to national strategies in technology. But attracting talents in these areas cannot rely entirely on personal devotion. Better pay and welfare are needed.
Ministry of Education released the first batch of bases for ‘Plan to cultivate students in Basic Disciplines 2.0’ (formerly known as the ‘Everest project’) on 17 Sep 2020. In total, 33 universities are selected.
Meanwhile, the inaugural ‘Initiative to Enhance Basic Disciplines’ struggled to recruit enough students, reports 21st Century Business Herald. Many universities fell well short of recruitment plans, though Tsinghua University managed to recruit more students than planned. Experts believe many students are unsure about devoting themselves to basic disciplines. The Plan is more popular, as it allows students to pick a different major for graduate studies. The Initiative, meanwhile, prohibits students from transferring to another program.
The target of the Initiative is also unclear. The Plan explicitly targets students involved in academic competitions. These students are usually specialised in competitions, preventing them from meeting the gaokao requirements for the Initiative. Only students winning top or second prizes could join the Initiative, but these students are relatively few. In fact, all of them have been snapped up by Peking and Tsinghua University. Eventually, many students without outstanding gaokao scores were recruited.
Thus, adjustments are needed. An anonymous expert suggests students be allowed to apply to multiple universities offering the Initiative. Gaokao requirements could also be lowered and more universities could be included.
The poor reception of the Initiative is not entirely unexpected, and 21st Century Business Herald asks for patience. Stricter requirements may drive away students but those admitted would be truly committed.