Core Insights - The article discusses the recent adjustments in undergraduate programs in China, highlighting the addition, removal, and restructuring of 3,424 programs across the country, with a focus on "strategic urgent" and "emerging interdisciplinary" fields [1][3]. Group 1: Professional Adjustments - The Ministry of Education's recent report indicates a significant shift in professional adjustments, moving from traditional "addition and subtraction" to a more in-depth "structural adjustment and integration" approach [3]. - In the past five years, "Double First Class" universities have added a total of 1,068 new programs, with engineering disciplines leading the way at 501 programs, accounting for nearly half of the total [4][5]. Group 2: Key Trends in New Programs - The majority of new engineering programs focus on technological innovation and engineering applications, aligning with the national strategy for "new engineering" development [7]. - Artificial intelligence has emerged as the most popular new program, with 41 "Double First Class" universities establishing this major, reflecting a strong emphasis on talent cultivation in this field [7][8]. - The new program "Energy Storage Science and Engineering" has gained traction, focusing on renewable energy and materials, and is seen as crucial for achieving carbon neutrality goals [8]. Group 3: Interdisciplinary and Emerging Fields - A notable trend is the rise of interdisciplinary programs, with 203 new programs incorporating "intelligent" and "smart" themes, primarily within engineering [11]. - New programs such as "Smart Agriculture" and "Smart Transportation" emphasize the digital transformation of traditional industries, indicating a broadening of the "intelligent+" concept beyond engineering [12]. Group 4: Health and Sports Programs - The "Exercise Training" program has seen a surge, with 25 new additions, driven by the "Healthy China" initiative and the integration of sports and education [16][17]. - New health-related programs like "Infant Development and Health Management" and "Geriatric Medicine and Health" are emerging, reflecting societal needs [22]. Group 5: Program Cancellations - Despite the increase in new programs, there is a noticeable trend of program cancellations, with "Double First Class" universities like Shandong University and Sichuan University removing numerous programs due to factors such as low enrollment and outdated relevance [30][33]. - The adjustments are driven by the need for high-quality employment outcomes, faculty resource considerations, and alignment with current industry demands [36][39]. Group 6: Future Directions - The establishment of new programs is increasingly aligned with national strategic needs, such as the recent addition of "Low-altitude Technology and Engineering" to support the burgeoning low-altitude economy [24]. - The ongoing adjustments in higher education programs reflect a broader commitment to enhancing the quality and relevance of education in response to evolving societal and economic demands [41].

Group 1 - The Ministry of Education announced the results for the 2024 undergraduate program approvals, with a total of 1,839 new program points added, 157 programs adjusted, 2,220 programs discontinued, and 1,428 programs revoked, indicating a significant optimization of academic programs [2][3] - Among the new programs, engineering saw the highest addition with 940 new points, followed by science with 193, agriculture with 46, and medicine with 16, making up 65% of the total new programs [2] - The artificial intelligence program was the most added, with 91 new points, accounting for approximately 5% of all new programs, involving both "Double First-Class" and non-"Double First-Class" universities [2][3] Group 2 - Other notable new programs included smart construction, big data management, smart manufacturing engineering, robotics engineering, and integrated circuit design, each with over 30 new points [3] - The updated directory also included 29 new programs, with low-altitude technology and engineering being the most popular, offered by six universities [3] Group 3 - In Shandong province, 58 universities added a total of 182 new program points, with 152 being actual new programs, and the most added program was integrated circuit design [4][5] - Shandong's universities have a unique focus, with only 5 new artificial intelligence programs added, as the province has already established a strong foundation in this area since 2018 [5] Group 4 - Nationwide, 49 universities adjusted the duration of some five-year programs to four years, primarily in landscape architecture and urban planning [6] - This adjustment aligns with the Ministry of Education's initiative to optimize program structures and talent cultivation in response to new development patterns [6][7]

Core Points - The newly published "Directory of Undergraduate Programs in General Higher Education" includes 93 categories and 845 programs, with 29 new programs added [2][6] - Major universities like Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Fudan University have made significant reforms in their departments, focusing on interdisciplinary education and emerging fields [2][4][5] Group 1: New Programs and Department Reforms - The new programs include Intelligent Molecular Engineering, Medical Devices and Equipment Engineering, and Spatiotemporal Information Engineering, among others [2][7] - Shanghai Jiao Tong University has split its renowned Electrical and Electronic Engineering College into four independent colleges to better support talent development in artificial intelligence and related fields [3][4] - Fudan University has established six new innovative engineering colleges, each led by top scientists, adopting an interdisciplinary talent training model [4][7] Group 2: Implications for Talent Development - The restructuring aims to enhance the quality of talent produced, focusing on strategic scientists who can lead industry advancements [4][5] - The changes are expected to create a more competitive environment for students, potentially leading to a greater emergence of talent [4][6] - The emphasis on interdisciplinary programs aligns with current industry needs, moving away from traditional single-discipline education [5][6] Group 3: Impact on Student Enrollment - The adjustments in departments and new program offerings will significantly influence the 2025 college entrance examination candidates, with potential shifts in enrollment patterns [6][7] - The demand for graduates in IT, internet, and gaming sectors remains high, with a projected 20% to 25% increase in job openings for these fields [6][7] - The newly added programs are designed to meet national strategic needs and adapt to market demands, including areas like carbon neutrality and health care [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Education has updated the undergraduate program directory for 2025, adding 29 new majors to better align with national strategic needs and high-quality development [1][4]. Group 1: New Majors Overview - The new directory includes 93 categories and 845 majors, with a focus on responding quickly to national strategies and market demands [1][4]. - The most frequently added major is "Low Altitude Technology and Engineering," with six universities offering it [1][4]. Group 2: Distribution of New Majors - The new majors include "Carbon Neutrality Science and Engineering," offered by five universities, and "Artificial Intelligence Education," offered by one university [2][4]. - "Regional Studies" has the highest number of universities offering it, with 11 institutions [2][4]. - Other notable new majors include "Smart Audio-Visual Engineering," "Game Art Design," and "Health and Medical Security," with varying numbers of universities offering them [2][3][4]. Group 3: Strategic Alignment - The new majors reflect the government's focus on strategic areas such as carbon neutrality, marine science, and health management, aligning educational offerings with technological advancements and market needs [4][5]. - The Ministry of Education has established a mechanism for rapid response to strategic needs, allowing for immediate establishment of relevant programs in high-priority areas [4].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the expansion of high-quality undergraduate programs in China, highlighting the increase in enrollment numbers at top universities while also addressing the reduction of liberal arts programs, suggesting a shift towards interdisciplinary studies and the integration of liberal arts with science and technology [1][2][3]. Group 1: Expansion of Undergraduate Programs - The Chinese government aims to increase the enrollment of "double first-class" universities, with an additional 20,000 students planned for 2025, following a previous increase of 16,000 students [1]. - Tsinghua University and Peking University have announced plans to expand their undergraduate admissions by 150 students each, focusing on fields such as artificial intelligence and clinical medicine [5][6]. - Other 985 universities, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Xi'an Jiaotong University, are also expanding their enrollment, with a focus on emerging fields like AI, integrated circuits, and biomedical sciences [5][7]. Group 2: Reduction of Liberal Arts Programs - The trend of reducing liberal arts programs has sparked discussions, with Fudan University's president stating that the proportion of liberal arts admissions will decrease from 30-40% to 20% [2][9]. - Despite the reduction, data from the C9 university alliance indicates that liberal arts programs will not disappear, but rather undergo adjustments to better align with societal needs [9][11]. - The article emphasizes that while liberal arts may face cuts, they still hold significant importance in comprehensive universities, with a substantial number of students and faculty dedicated to these fields [11][13]. Group 3: Interdisciplinary Focus - The article suggests that the future of liberal arts lies in interdisciplinary integration, with universities developing programs that combine liberal arts with science and technology [3][15]. - Examples include Tsinghua University offering cross-disciplinary programs in political economy and creative design, and Fudan University launching new programs like neurolinguistics and data intelligence [18][19]. - The shift towards interdisciplinary studies is seen as a response to the evolving job market and societal demands, indicating a need for graduates who possess a blend of skills from both liberal arts and sciences [16][17].