New guidelines urge universities to specialise as demographic change and a tougher job market reshape talent demand
3-MIN READ3-MINDannie Pengin BeijingPublished: 10:00am, 28 Sep 2026Updated: 10:07am, 28 Sep 2026China has unveiled an overhaul of its university system, urging institutions to develop distinct roles as demographic change, a tighter job market and industrial upgrading alter the country’s skills needs.
The general offices of the ruling Communist Party’s Central Committee as well as the State Council, China’s cabinet, jointly issued guidelines for higher education reform, state news agency Xinhua reported on September 20.
