China’s Ministry of Education has urgently approved 29 new university majors, most focusing on cutting-edge technology, semiconductor science, artificial intelligence, and other strategic sectors, as part of the country’s broader development agenda.
The decision, announced on Tuesday and reported by Xinhua, aims to align higher education with China’s evolving national strategies and commitment to high-quality development. These new majors include specialized fields such as marine science and technology, health security, medical device engineering, and spatiotemporal information engineering.
In response to rapid technological changes, the revised catalog now incorporates emerging disciplines like smart molecular engineering, international cruise management, and aviation sports. Reflecting the importance of AI in modern society, majors such as AI education, smart audiovisual engineering, and digital drama have been introduced.
An important aspect of this educational reform is the implementation of a new mechanism that allows for quick adjustments to curricula, enabling education sectors to swiftly respond to emerging strategic priorities. For example, six universities, including Beihang University, have been advised to launch majors in low-altitude technology and engineering to support the burgeoning low-altitude economy.
Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that these initiatives will foster specialized talents essential for industrial growth and enhance China’s global competitiveness. To expedite the development of key sectors, the Ministry of Education has also established a “green channel” process for approving disciplines aligned with government priorities.
Currently, China’s higher education system offers a total of 845 college majors across 62,800 undergraduate programs, spanning 93 disciplinary categories. However, the country still faces significant workforce shortages: over 5 million in AI, 2.3 million in big data, and additional gaps in new-energy vehicles and drone operators, highlighting the urgency of these educational reforms.
