[photopress:MBA_uni_graduate_1_2.jpg,full,alignright]A survey has found Chinese graduates are questioning the value of continuing their education for a master’s degree. This is shown by the decline in the number of students applying.
More than half — 52.9% — of the survey respondents thought it was not worth their while to spend two years on a master’s degree, while the rest still thought positively of master’s degrees.
The survey, jointly conducted by the social research center of China Youth Daily and the media center of sina.com.cn, covered 7,730 respondents, including 4,865 who had obtained or were pursuing master’s degrees.
The survey showed 35.6% of the 4,865 regretted starting their master’s studies.
Ministry of Education figures show 1.28 million people applied for the national entrance exam for master’s studies this year, up only 0.55% year-on-year.
The number rose 170,000 on average each year from 2001 to 2006, or a yearly 20% increase.
The survey report quoted another respondent as saying: ‘People have begun to question the value of master’s degrees, which might not be a bad thing. At least, it shows critical thinking. Many people used to go blindly for master’s degrees.’
Source: Shanghai Daily