Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the increasing emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields in higher education in China, driven by national strategic needs and the competitive global landscape, while cautioning against potential oversupply of graduates in these areas [3][4][16]. Group 1: Trends in Higher Education - Top universities in China are expanding their STEM programs significantly, with institutions like Tsinghua University and Peking University announcing plans to increase undergraduate enrollment by 150 students, focusing on fields like artificial intelligence and renewable energy [6][7]. - The Ministry of Education has outlined plans to optimize and adjust approximately 20% of higher education disciplines by 2025, with a strong focus on urgent STEM fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, and advanced manufacturing [7][10]. - In 2025, a total of 1,839 new academic programs will be added, with two-thirds being engineering-related, while over 3,600 programs, mostly in the humanities, will be discontinued [7][8]. Group 2: National Strategy and Global Competition - The push for STEM education is framed within the context of global competition, particularly in technology sectors where the U.S. has imposed restrictions on China, necessitating a robust domestic talent pool in critical areas [16][18]. - The article emphasizes that the current expansion of STEM programs is not merely a response to market demand but a strategic move to ensure national security and technological independence [16][18]. Group 3: Potential Risks and Market Dynamics - Despite the aggressive expansion of STEM fields, there are concerns about potential oversupply, drawing parallels to past trends in civil engineering, which saw a surge in graduates followed by a market downturn [20][30]. - The article highlights that while China produces eight times more STEM graduates than the U.S., there remains a significant mismatch in the quality and applicability of these graduates in the job market [25][26]. - The narrative warns that many students may find themselves ill-prepared for the demands of engineering roles, leading to a surplus of graduates without corresponding job opportunities [26][30].