Up and coming? Doctoral education in China

Abstract

In line with China's massive leap forward in higher education since the late 1990s and its ambitious bid for world-class universities within decades, doctoral education has been strongly, and arguable strategically, promoted by the Chinese government. During the past four decades, China quickly established a national system of academic degrees and postgraduate education since the early 1980s. Its doctoral education has since grown fast to become one of the largest in the world. While the developmental process deserves much commendation, it was never short of twists and turns. The extraordinarily fast growth has particularly led to a variety of problems that have evoked controversy in China, especially over the widely perceived decline of quality in doctoral training. In view of a lack of literature in English on Chinese doctoral education, this article attempts to provide an analytical review of China's current practices as well as some issues and challenges faced by the system in meeting societal needs and future development.