On December 3, 2022, Zhang Xuefeng posted a striking ** on Weibo, saying that the number of graduate students may decline next year. The number of applicants for the 2024 National Master's Admissions Examination has decreased by 360,000 compared to last year, the first decline after eight consecutive years of increase. This phenomenon has aroused heated discussions in all walks of life and reflects the deep-seated changes in China's graduate education and social development.
Zhang Xuefeng's ** is not groundless, his years of experience in graduate exam tutoring have given him a keen insight into relevant changes. First of all, the way of education and choices have changed under the pandemic. Online distance teaching has risen rapidly, and colleges and universities have increased the construction of online courses. Some undergraduates, who originally planned to go to graduate school, chose to pursue their studies through online courses. In this way, they not only avoid the pressure of high-intensity preparation for the graduate school entrance examination, but also learn Xi while working. Secondly, in recent years, the state has vigorously supported the innovation and entrepreneurship of college students. As an ideal life path in the new era, entrepreneurship has attracted some undergraduate graduates, who have given up the opportunity to go to graduate school. This involves both the attraction of practical opportunities and the rational choice of personal development. Through his keen judgment, Zhang Xuefeng successfully achieved the decline in the number of applicants for the postgraduate entrance examination.
In addition to the reasons mentioned by Zhang Xuefeng, the sharp decline in the number of applicants for graduate school entrance examinations this year seems to reflect some changes in social development and the mentality of young people. First of all, the decline in the demographic dividend is the most direct reason for the decline in graduate school registration. With the obvious decline in China's demographic dividend, the number of school-age candidates will naturally decline. The decline in the birth rate during the epidemic has also further reduced the number of young people, which determines the reduction of enrollment plans from the source, resulting in a decline in candidate registration. In addition, changes in the employment environment and policies have also weakened the incentive to go to graduate school. On the one hand, the increase in academic requirements for jobs makes postgraduate entrance examinations a necessary means to get a better job. On the other hand, even if you are admitted to a master's degree, the possibility of finding a satisfactory job and the increase in remuneration are limited. Since the pay gap for graduate students is not enough to compensate for the higher cost of Xi and time, the incentive to go to graduate school is weakened. In addition, the increase in the number of students has also reduced the number of applicants for graduate school. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of graduate programs for outstanding undergraduate students. Compared with the postgraduate entrance examination, the undergraduate students who can directly secure the postgraduate examination have reduced a lot of pressure. Some undergraduates who would have needed to go on to graduate school have also obtained master's qualifications through this route.
The rise of online education during the pandemic is also one of the important factors in the decline in postgraduate admissions. This is also an important factor proposed by Zhang Xuefeng. The rapid development of online distance education provides an easier option for current students and working people who do not want to spend time and energy preparing for graduate school entrance examinations. They can get the opportunity to systematically study through various ** courses offered by universities and institutions. This undoubtedly reduces the pressure of applying for graduate school entrance examinations.
To sum up, the sharp decline in the number of applicants for graduate school this year seems to indicate some deep-seated changes. First of all, the disappearance of the demographic dividend is a reality. The number of young people in China will enter a continuous decline channel, which directly affects the scale of enrollment. Therefore, talent training will pay more attention to quality rather than quantity, and cultivate connotative development. Second, society is gradually shifting from emphasizing academic standards to emphasizing competency standards. The improvement of the level of competence will be the focus of education, rather than simply the pursuit of the highest academic qualifications. Third, the youth group has shifted from "single-minded public examination" to diversified development. More and more college students are no longer limited to a single development standard, but teach students according to their aptitude, pursuing personalized growth and innovation and entrepreneurship. Finally, online education and physical colleges will be deeply integrated. The first-class courses, which have developed rapidly during the epidemic, are expected to gradually become a normalized teaching mode, thereby changing the face of graduate education.
The phenomenon of declining enrollment year after year reflects the profound changes in China's graduate education and social development. The disappearance of the demographic dividend, changes in the employment environment and policies, the increase in research opportunities, and the rise of online education have all had an impact on the number of applicants for graduate school. This change means that talent training will pay more attention to quality and ability training, young people will pursue diversified development paths, and first-class education will also be deeply integrated into graduate education. ** Analyzing these changes helps us to better understand the development trend of graduate education in our country, and provides guidance for the formulation of educational policies and the selection of students. It is believed that under the promotion of policies, China's graduate education will usher in a new era of more diversified and personalized development.