Graduate Employment was the topic of our learning team’s debate in last term.
I listed some facts both in China and the US, the comparison is short and based on a superfacial examination. However, I think we could learn something from it.
I put the outline and my PPT together here:
Graduate Employment: A Short Comparison
Between China and the U.S.
1.Employment and Unemployment status in the U.S. and China
The figures and charts of employment rate and unemployment rate of China and the U.S. can tell us about the employment and unemployment status in both two counties. The unemployment rates of the U.S. were little higher than China in recent years (2001-2006, 1.2% on average). see C1, C2, and C3.
C1:America’s Employment rate is rising since August 2003
C2:America’s Unemployment Rate is Down from June 2003
C3: Unemployment Rate of China and the U.S.
2. Employment Status of Graduates in the U.S. and China
Yet the employment status of graduates in China is not good at all when we compare it with the America’s. While there 18.8% of graduates are still waiting for an offer in the U.S., 29.1% of graduates in China are jobless. See C4, C5, and C6.
C4: America’s Employment Status of Graduates: 2007
C5: China’s Employment Status of Graduates: 2007
C6: Employment Status of Graduates: China and the U.S.
Chinese will find a job more easily than their American counterpart, yet the graduates in China will not.
Here’s data from JOB OUTLOOK 2007 (Spring Update) published by NACE below:
We can conclude the different situation by this way: U.S (left) and China (right)
Another difference is, in the U.S, higher education level will make lower unemployment rate(see C7), so we can say: A book holds a house of gold (书中自有黄金屋), yet in China, who will be sure about what we can find in books?
C7.
3. Why There is a Difference?
3.1 The Purpose of Higher Education.
Most of American colleges have a similar purpose. It focus on the advancement and education of youth in all manner of good literature, arts, sciences, and all other necessary provisions. The Mission of Chinese higher education is to train the youth to be builders and successors of the socialist cause…, When they educate their youth as human beings, our government treats students as tools. See Q1 and Q2.
Q1: the Mission of Harvard College
Q2: Clause from Higher Education Law of the People’s Republic of China
3.2 Difference in Curricula.
Most of Chinese colleges’ curricula are very narrow than the American’s. The general education or we called the core curriculum in the American colleges often includes humanities, arts, natural and mathematical sciences, and social sciences. In China, students majored in social sciences seldom take courses of nature sciences. See Q3.
Q3: Core Curriculum example
The purpose of higher education and the curricula of American colleges make an environment in which the student will development all-around. In contrast, Chinese’ structure of higher education decrease the students’ capabilities and narrow their vision.
They are reasons why graduates in American are like WENGERs while the Chinese are pencil-sharpeners.