In an article for the University World News, renowned professors Yuzhuo Cai and Wenqin Shen argued that the new act is a significant move towards “standardisation, decentralisation, and diversification” in China’s higher education system.
Though the new Degree Act does not explicitly address international degree program collaboration, its broader framework hints at potential opportunities for such partnerships.
According to Cai and Shen, the act clarifies the authority of provincial education bodies in granting master’s degrees.
It allows selected elite universities to create master’s and doctoral programs independently.
This increased autonomy gives these institutions more control over developing international degree programs.
Moreover, the new act establishes more comprehensive regulations on degree procedures and quality assurance, bringing them more in line with international standards and practices.
Notably, degree requirements will now prioritise achieving specific learning outcomes rather than strictly focusing on the length of study.
The authors suggested that a master’s degree in China traditionally takes two to three years, which students find too lengthy, prompting them to seek education abroad.
The new Act, however, does not specify a required duration for master’s programs, creating the possibility for shorter degree options, potentially lasting one to two years.
As per the authors, the shift towards shorter degree cycles could streamline dual-degree collaborations with international partners, making them more time-efficient and appealing.
The new law does not mandate students pursuing professional degrees to write a thesis; instead, it lets them fulfil their degree requirements through practical outcomes, such as creative works.
This rule creates more opportunities for China to collaborate with other countries in developing postgraduate programs in the future.
The 2024 Degree Act also mandates that the provisions of the law apply when institutions grant degrees overseas or when international students apply for Chinese academic degrees.
This legislative clarification suggests that as China’s higher education quality continues to grow, the government will increasingly support Chinese universities in offering degree programs abroad.
According to Cai, though the new Degree Act aims to further international cooperation, it’s not without its challenges.
Over the years, researchers and academics have found that China’s 1980 Degree Regulation has impacted collaboration in degree programs between the country and international partners.
A key issue with the regulation is its classification of higher education degrees as national credentials with stringent central control.
Implementing the new Degree Act would not mean the ownership of degrees transfers from the Chinese government to higher education institutions.
“The law does not transfer ownership of degrees to higher education institutions. For instance, universities still lack full autonomy when it comes to establishing international degree programmes, including joint or double degree programmes,” explained Cai.
“This means the dilemma posed by the 1980 Degree Regulation, as mentioned earlier, remains partially unresolved.”
Furthermore, integrating Chinese and international students into joint degree programs with international institutions remains challenging due to varied admission requirements.
Universities still lack full autonomy when it comes to establishing international degree programmes, including joint or double degree programmes
Yuzhuo Cai, Tampere University
While joint degrees can be a success at the master’s level, China’s current requirements are complicated considering the duration, graduation requirements, and defence procedures.
Additionally, the new Degree Act does not reference the term ‘joint degree’, leaving the criteria for awarding such degrees relatively unclear in the Chinese legal framework.
