Forcing Chinese College Students to Think. Period.

Hey all, yet another post from the prolific Veronica; this one focuses on China’s “college student problem”; the system continues to churn out clones that are above average (when taken in context) but not up to par to the standards set by their global counterparts.

Whereas it was a sellers market years previous (exemplified by the high turnover rate of students who “jump” from job to job in an effort to increase their salaries) we now see a reverse of the trend, with companies infused with students with low skill; with nary a competent manager in sight.

That’s a problem. Here’s one Chinese college’s attempt to reverse the trend, and comments from Chinese netizens on the effort. Enjoy; -Rand.

There always seem to be  problems with China’s college education area. Sometimes people criticize on the general system; sometimes colleges disgust their students; parents blame universities for being too nice or too mean on their babies; when school authorities decide to do something for change, it’s just not good enough.

Before reading through the following post from qq.com, let’s get to know some factors on Chinese university students employment issue. As experts concluded, China’s graduates employment is facing three major problems:

1. On supply aspect, China’s higher education has entered to a popular level. Domestic annual graduates increased from 2.12 millions in 2003, 4.13 millions in 2006 to 6.11 millions in 2009. And this number is 6 times to 2001, when colleges first applied enrollment expansion – 1 million graduates only.

2.  On demand aspect, globalization and tech development form the time-background. Globalization and knowledge economy require graduates to be high-standard, diverse and flexible, which college graduates can’t adapt to in time.

3. Integrate the above two aspects, structural unemployment furthers employability issue. Gallup Market Research showed that in 2007, only 70% graduates are able to meet their jobs’ requirement. Seller’s market is gradually changing into buyer’s one.

Zhengzhou University Assigned Students to Earn 600 RMB by Mental Work during Winter Holiday.

“Earn a net income of RMB 600 during 35 days in holidays; Earn the money by mental work instead of physical ones.” Jan. 25, 2010, Zhengzhou University announced the beginning of winter holiday, when its students were assigned the above schoolwork.
“University students must start their career by their wisdom and create job opportunities for migrant workers instead of taking their job.” Sun Xincheng, The university’s deputy secretary of party committee said, the purpose of assigning this work is to bring up the students’ business sense. If they just do simple physical work, going to college would be a waste.

Special assignment requires earning money, but not by grabbing migrant workers’ jobs.

The Education College of Zhengzhou University’s winter assignment includes three practices. One of them is: earning RMB 600 by lawful method in five weeks’ winter holiday.

In details, it requires students must try their best to do mental work. The examination will measure the ratio of brainwork, working video and photo if needed. When assigning the schoolwork, the teacher concluded in one word – do not grab migrant workers’ jobs. Except the grade four students, there are more than 300 students in Zhengzhou University have been assigned the work.

Students’ reaction 70% students find the schoolwork difficult.

The journalist did a survey on 50 Zhengzhou University students randomly – 72% students found to complete the task is somehow difficult; 10% students thought they couldn’t accomplish it; only 18% students considered it easy.

Ding, a grade three student, said, “The winter holiday only lasts for 35 days. Apart from one week’s Spring Festival, there are only more than 20 days. Moreover, Spring Festival breaks the holiday into two parts – the time is too short to find a work.”

Zhang, student of Politics of Thinking, argues that the city lacks manual labor during Spring Festival and companies that require mental labor don’t hire part-times these days. It is easy to find a job of distributing flyers, but it’s also manual labor.

Rural students take 60%~70% in total student number of Education College of Zhengzhou University. The special task baffled many of them. Jin said that his home is located in Xingyang country and no one needs tutoring there – no mental work, and no money earning.

Netizens’ Comments on the article:

无敌
This university should publish school’s employment rate before assigning students the work (except students’ fake employment or students’ being arranged to job). What is the current situation now? Some leaders are really “easy to be brave at a distance”

书痴
If the students can’t earn money by mental work in the university, they still won’t be able to do that after graduation.

小城
A says to B, if you eat the dung on the ground, I will give you 600. Then B ate it. Then B says, if you eat the dung on the ground, I will give you 600. As a result, they both earn 600.

风月
It’s too easy. Several students come together and do the winter schoolwork for primary school students, and they can earn at least tens of thousands.

Reborn
It’s ridiculous. I have earned tens of thousands. I am just a freshman. I earned everything by mental work. The coffer is built by clicking keyboard.

麦一亚哈哈
I think the principal is just an idiot. Mental work? Even saying it need to open your mouth, mental work…

九十九岚
Programming can earn more than 100 thousands.

宝马女JJ
This University is so ridiculous! Nowadays we can find university students everywhere. How much are they worth? Don’t boast if you don’t have anything. Can’t stand this. It makes the students’ whole winter holiday miserable.

@巧林@饮酒笑
Instant Success! Misguide students!

@巧林@饮酒笑

@♀石头♂
“I think this proposal is good. University students have studied for so many years; they are old enough to earn 600 RMB by themselves. And the number is not too much. At least it is better than staying at home! Between university and employment is just a fine line. What they can do if they can’t earn even 600?”

Your view was one-sided! It is suitable for you but not for all. You think it is reasonable but not everyone thinks the same. You think earning 600 is good, but other might don’t. Chinese just like to join in the fun; there won’t be creativity without personal development. Do you think your proposal is good? It is wrong for you to regard your momentary insight as the truth for all. You shouldn’t do this!

老★间
This is the right thing to do, otherwise university is a waste!

真情流露
So poor university students!

金づ尘→假面
Good idea, but I don’t know whether the university courses are helpful for employment.

枫树叶的种子
The work is very good; should promote it.

∫烟雾迷漫∮
The idea is good. It can let students accept the working atmosphere earlier. As long as students try their best to use their wisdom, even they didn’t get 600 at last, they will not come back empty handed.

北鼻_Jane
Nowadays earning money by mental labor mostly relies on online the Internet. Open online shops are not economical for students, but they can write thesis for others. Also they can take part in regular race program to get the awards(such as the film Slum dog Millionaire). Many can sell some old things in their home.

So many ways, but I think the key is only dare to think and practice can one earn money. Don’t think too much about ways of the world. Business man always cheats. Do whatever is legal.

寒冬暖仙枫
I agree with this decision. Students should use their wisdom more – better than doing part time job in restaurants.

碧海之恋╩▓
“72% students found to complete the task is somehow difficult; 10% students thought they couldn’t accomplish it; only 18% students considered it easy.”

Clearly the task to prove Quality Education baffled most students. But if the students are only told to do something that everybody can manage, then college is really a waste.

I think 600 Yuan is not enough for many university students’ monthly expenses, and now to ask you make 600 RMB, it’s not much at all. And the students can know how hard their parents make a living! It also can let these students know the reality.

The way might need to be tested, although we can’t deny it is innovative.

@♀石头♂
I think this proposal is good. University students have studied for so many years; they are old enough to earn 600 RMB by themselves. And the number is not too much. At least it is better than staying at home! Between university and employment is just a fine line. What they can do if they can’t earn even 600?

UD
@无敌
“This university should publish school’s employment rate before assigning students the work (except students’ fake employment or students’ being arranged to job). What is the current situation now? Some leaders are really “easy to be brave at a distance.”

It is better than no thoughts! The manual labor isn’t the goal of university! Though sometimes manual labor is out of no choice.

燕子也有悲哀
When I was a university student in Zhengzhou, I earned money by sales work in the marketplace or getting sponsorship – in the name of my school – really benefit others as well as myself. Furthermore, I also earned money by mental works. I wrote examination questions for exam website. It helped me to get more than 400. And also, wrote for magazines make some small money.

In all, for students without many connections, it’s hard to make money. But it’s easier if you cheat!

[View original post by clicking here]

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Tagged as: Add new tag, China, college students, Education, Higher education, Migrant worker, Personal development, Primary school, Student, Supply and demand