On December 19, the Ministry of Education held a press conference to introduce the "Opinions of the Ministry of Education on Further Promoting the Development of Classification of Academic Degree and Professional Degree Graduate Education" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"). The "Opinions" proposes that by 2027, the development of the classification of the two types of degrees will achieve a pattern change, and the governance system of degree and graduate education will continue to improve, and the governance capacity will be significantly improved.
According to Ren Youqun, director of the Department of Degree Management and Graduate Education of the Ministry of Education, in 2022, the number of graduate students in China will reach 3.65 million, ranking second in the world. At present, the pattern of the development of academic degree and professional degree graduate education classification has been basically formed. The number of academic degree doctoral programs has doubled compared with 10 years ago, and the total number of professional degree programs has increased from 37 to 37 degrees 10 years ago6% to 442%, of which the number of doctoral professional degree authorization points increased by 3 times. In terms of talent training, the number of professional degrees awarded accounted for 3229% to 56 in 20224%。
Clarify the equal importance of the two types of degrees, and plan the development of the two types of degrees by classification
The "Opinions" make it clear that academic degree and professional degree graduate education are important ways for the country to cultivate high-level innovative talentsThe two types of degrees are equally important, and the training unit should pay equal attention to the two types of degrees in terms of enrollment, training, and employment, so as to ensure the training quality of the two types of degree graduates.
The academic degree relies on the first-level discipline training and awards degrees according to categories, focusing on the needs of knowledge innovation and development, and cultivating academic and innovative talents with high academic literacy, strong original spirit and solid scientific research ability. Professional degrees are cultivated and awarded according to the category of professional degrees, focusing on the needs of industry and industrial development, and cultivating practical and innovative talents with a solid and systematic professional foundation, strong practical ability and high professional quality.
The "Opinions" proposes to distinguish the key layout direction of two types of degree points, and the academic degree adheres to the layout of a high starting point, focusing on the layout of doctoral degree authorization points;Professional degrees adhere to demand-oriented,In principle, the newly added master's degree-granting institutions only carry out professional degree graduate education, and the new master's degree authorization points are mainly professional degree authorization points, with both academic degrees and professional degrees, the field focuses on the layout of professional degree authorization points.
The enrollment scale of professional and master's programs will reach two-thirds of the total scale
Ren Youqun said that he will focus on major national strategies, key areas and major social needsFurther increase the proportion of graduate students with professional degreesBy the end of the "14th Five-Year Plan", the enrollment scale of professional degree master's students will be expanded to about two-thirds of the total enrollment scale of master's students, and the number of doctoral degree students will be greatly increased.
The "Opinions" mentioned that qualified training units should be supported to further expand the scale of recommending exemption from examination (preliminary examination) to recruit professional degree graduates, and select fresh undergraduate graduates with high innovation and entrepreneurship potential. In the enrollment of professional degrees, a certain proportion of experts with practical experience in the industry are encouraged to participate in the re-examination (interview) expert group.
Majors and masters can implement multiple degrees** or practical achievement assessment methods
Ren Youqun said that according to the "Opinions", the differentiated requirements of positioning, standards, enrollment, training, evaluation, teachers and other links will be strengthened. In the enrollment stage, two types of students are distinguished, and the key aspects of enrollment are emphasized, and the participation of industry and enterprise experts in the enrollment of professional degrees is emphasized. The specific requirements of training programs, courses, teaching materials, and teachers should be clarified by classification, and the academic degree should highlight the theoretical frontier of education and teaching, strengthen the theoretical foundation, broaden the academic horizon, strengthen the training of scientific methods and the improvement of academic literacy, and strengthen the integration of science and education to educate peopleProfessional degrees should highlight the vocational practice of education and teaching, support the development of training programs that reflect the characteristics of the profession with industry departments, set up exclusive courses for professional degrees, and strengthen the integration of industry and education and collaborative education.
The "Opinions" require that the basic requirements and norms, evaluation standards and rules and verification methods for degrees be formulated by classification, and a separate degree evaluation sub-committee should be set up for interdisciplinary and professional degrees. In particular, it is proposed to encourage the implementation of multiple degrees or practical achievement assessment methods for master's professional degrees, such as special research**, research reports, case analysis reports, product design works, scheme design, etc.
The basic disciplines are mainly positioned to cultivate academic doctorates and increase the proportion of direct doctorates
The Opinions also put forwardSupport qualified high-level research universities to focus on cultivating doctoral students with academic degrees in basic disciplines, and further increase the proportion of direct doctoral studentsSupport reform measures such as innovating the joint training mechanism under the guidance of the training of outstanding engineers, building engineer technology centers, improving the selection and assessment of tutors, and reconstructing core courses.
Strengthen the classification review and evaluation of academic degrees and professional degrees, master's and doctoral degree authorization points, academic degree authorization points highlight the support of high-level teachers and scientific research, and professional degree authorization points take external tutors and joint training bases as necessary conditions. Qualified training units can independently set up departments or training institutions for professional degrees, provide financial support, and hire personnel with rich industry experience as the person in charge, so as to create a better environment for the development of professional degrees.
*: Hubei Release, People's Daily Editor: Zhang Xia.
Editor-in-charge: Huang Li Final review: Wei Baodong Producer: Xiaogan Radio and Television Station.