Jiangsu is the
province in China that owns the largest number of institutions
of higher learning with 105 universities and colleges and
an annual student enrolment of more than 741,000 in 2004.
Jiangsu’s higher
learning education system experienced two major
periods restructure in its history, one happened in the early 1950s, the
other starting in 1999.
From 1949 after
the Chinese Communist Party took over power, the central government
carried out the major reorganization for its higher learning
education system by adopting the educational model of the former
Soviet Union. Many comprehensive universities were divided or
relocated, and these departments were separated from the university
and further combined with others to form a new higher learning
institution. As a result, the number of comprehensive universities
was declined and the size was minimized. However, the total number
of higher learning institutions, including many newly established
polytechnics was swelled.
Starting in 1999,
according to the policy reform from the central government,
Jiangsu’s universities underwent its another major adjustment,
the amalgamation. Many small higher learning institutions combined
each other or merged into other comprehensive universities. This
process resulted in the felldown of the number of the higher
learning institutions in Jiangsu and lead to a wave of the name
change in these institutions.
Jiangsu's
international co-operation and exchange programs have well
established in the past years. Its universities and colleges
have accepted international students from over 100 countries
or regions, and have had numerous exchange programs with
more than 300 universities in other countries. A large number
of academic faculties have been sent abroad to conduct collaborative
research and receive further training.
Over the
past few decades, the number of universities or colleges
funded by private sectors nationally or internationally
are on the upswing to offer youth an alternative path in
pursuing a higher education and preparing them for a better
career. These universities or colleges are recruiting more
academic staff or language teachers from Europe or North
America to teach academic or language courses including
English, French, Spanish, Japanese, etc.
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