"China's Top Universities Expand Enrollment to Bolster AI and Strategic Capabilities"

In the rapidly evolving landscape of global technology, China's top universities are making strategic moves to bolster their capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) and other strategic areas. This expansion is not just about increasing numbers; it is about cultivating high-quality, innovative talent that can drive the country's industrial development and economic growth. The focus on AI and interdisciplinary talent cultivation is a response to the growing demand for expertise in these fields, as well as a proactive measure to secure China's competitive edge in the intensifying global competition.



The expansion of AI-related programs in China's top universities is set to significantly impact the global AI talent landscape. According to the information provided, multiple Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Fudan University, have established new AI schools and launched AI general curricula. For instance, Tsinghua University has established a new College of AI dedicated to building a platform base to gather and cultivate top talents. Similarly, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University have also launched initiatives to cultivate interdisciplinary AI talents through innovative programs and research. Fudan University, starting from September 2024, will introduce at least 100 AI-related courses in the 2024-25 academic year, aiming to transform the school into a leading force in science intelligence education and talent cultivation. This focus on AI education is expected to produce a large number of AI professionals, addressing the projected shortage of 4 million AI talents by 2030, as reported by McKinsey & Company.

This expansion will provide China with several competitive advantages in the international market. Firstly, the increased number of AI professionals will help China meet the growing demand for AI talent, which is expected to grow sixfold from current levels by 2030. Secondly, the focus on interdisciplinary AI talent will enable China to develop professionals who are proficient in both AI and specialized domains, such as autonomous driving, where the annual salary for such experts can reach up to two million yuan. This will not only strengthen China's industrial competitiveness through innovation and technological upgrades but also boost local economies by fostering entrepreneurship and employment. Additionally, the open-source approach adopted by Chinese innovators, as seen with DeepSeek, has broken technological barriers and accelerated the commercialization of large models, narrowing the gap in AI capabilities with US giants like OpenAI.

Furthermore, the integration of AI education into the curriculum of all students, regardless of their major, will prepare them for the demands of the modern workforce, where AI skills are becoming increasingly essential. This will ensure that China has a workforce equipped with the necessary AI skills to drive the development of new quality productive forces and lay a solid foundation for China to gain an edge in the intensifying global competition.

To ensure that the increased enrollment translates into high-quality, innovative talent, several top Chinese universities are implementing specific measures. These measures are designed to address the current gaps in AI expertise and foster a new generation of skilled professionals.

1. Curriculum Enhancement and Specialization:
- Tsinghua University has established a new College of AI dedicated to building a platform base to gather and cultivate top talents. This initiative focuses on interdisciplinary innovation and the advancement of computer science. Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, dean of the Tsinghua College of AI, emphasized the exploration of innovative models for talent development and the advancement of the field of computer science.
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University is concentrating on frontier technologies and emerging industries urgently needed by the nation, with a focus on expanding enrollment in fields such as AI, integrated circuits, biomedicine, healthcare, and new energy. The university aims to cultivate interdisciplinary talent through innovative programs and research.
- Fudan University will introduce at least 100 AI-related courses in the 2024-25 academic year, aiming to transform the school into a leading force in science intelligence education and talent cultivation. The courses will focus on fostering independent innovation rather than solely employment prospects, equipping students to tackle real-world problems through collaborations with industries like pharmaceuticals.

2. Industry Collaboration and Real-World Application:
- Fudan University is integrating AI education into its curriculum, ensuring that all students, regardless of their major, have a solid understanding of AI and proficiency in its application. This will prepare them for the demands of the modern workforce, where AI skills are becoming increasingly essential. Chen Yan, executive vice dean of the Graduate School of Fudan University, stated, "Our aim is to integrate AI education into the curriculum of our school, ensuring that all students, regardless of their major, have a solid understanding of AI and proficiency in its application."
- Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have launched initiatives to cultivate interdisciplinary AI talents through innovative programs and research, emphasizing the importance of real-world application and industry collaboration.

3. Focus on National Strategic Needs:
- Peking University is increasing its undergraduate enrollment by 150 spots in 2025, with the new admissions plan focusing on areas of national strategic importance, fundamental disciplines, and emerging frontier fields. This focus ensures that the university is aligning its educational offerings with the country's strategic needs.
- Renmin University of China is continuing to increase its undergraduate enrollment by more than 100 spots in 2025, with a focus on meeting national strategic needs. This approach ensures that the university is producing graduates who are well-equipped to contribute to the nation's development.

4. Government Support and Policy Initiatives:
- The 2025 Government Work Report urged efforts to foster talent with expertise of strategic importance for the country and redouble efforts to nurture top-tier innovators, urgently needed personnel in key areas, and highly skilled workers. The report emphasized the need to move ahead with reforms of higher education institutions on a categorized basis, take solid steps to expand quality undergraduate education, accelerate the development of world-class universities and academic disciplines, and refine the mechanisms for discipline adjustment and talent training models.
- Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, stated that China will continue to promote the quality improvement and upgrading of higher education, expand the enrollment of high-quality undergraduate programs, and further increase the undergraduate enrollment in "Double First Class" universities. Last year, 16,000 spots were added, and this year, the goal is to add another 20,000 spots.

These measures are designed to address the current gaps in AI expertise by focusing on curriculum enhancement, industry collaboration, national strategic needs, and government support. By implementing these initiatives, universities are ensuring that the increased enrollment translates into high-quality, innovative talent that can drive China's technological and economic development.

The focus on strategic areas and interdisciplinary talent cultivation in China's higher education system is expected to significantly influence the country's industrial development and economic growth. By prioritizing national strategic needs, fundamental disciplines, and emerging frontier fields, universities like Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University are expanding their undergraduate enrollment and establishing new colleges and programs. This shift aims to cultivate talent in areas such as AI, integrated circuits, biomedicine, healthcare, and new energy, which are urgently needed by the nation.

For instance, Tsinghua University plans to increase its undergraduate enrollment by about 150 spots and establish a new general education college focused on interdisciplinary talent in AI and other fields. Similarly, Shanghai Jiao Tong University will increase its undergraduate enrollment by 150 spots, concentrating on frontier technologies and emerging industries. These initiatives are part of a broader effort to foster talent with expertise of strategic importance for the country, as highlighted in the 2025 Government Work Report. The report emphasizes the need to nurture top-tier innovators, urgently needed personnel in key areas, and highly skilled workers to drive the development of new quality productive forces.

The concentration of high-end talent strengthens industrial competitiveness through innovation and technological upgrades, while boosting local economies by fostering entrepreneurship and employment. This is evident in the growing demand for AI talent, with a projected shortage of 4 million people for AI roles by 2030. Universities across China are ramping up their efforts to cultivate top AI talents, with top institutions like Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Harbin Institute of Technology establishing schools of AI and launching AI general curricula. Fudan University, for example, will introduce at least 100 AI-related courses in the 2024-25 academic year, aiming to transform the school into a leading force in science intelligence education and talent cultivation.

However, this shift also presents potential challenges. Despite having the world's largest higher education system, China still faces gaps in fostering top-tier innovative talent. The quantity and quality of such individuals still fall short of international advanced standards, as noted by Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences. Additionally, the rapid advancements in AI and other technologies require innovative thinking, interdisciplinary expertise, strong teamwork abilities, a global outlook, and a strong sense of ethical responsibility. Meeting these demands will require significant