backThe Support and Demand for Zhejiang's Tertiary Education

1. The Support for Zhejiang’s Tertiary Education

Zhejiang attaches importance to its education throughout history. With years of endeavor, an education system integrating primary education, vocational education, higher education and adult education has been established in Zhejiang.

Fresh achievements have been attained in the reform and development of education. In 1999, the provincial government made the big decision of intensifying its efforts in developing higher education, and delivering its full support on the construction and development of colleges and universities in Zhejiang.

This decision has accelerated the construction of provincial universities and colleges by opening up six higher education zones. Four of them are respectively in Xiasha, Bingjiang, Xiaoheshan and Zhijingang of Hangzhou, and the other two are in Ningbo and Wenzhou.

By the end of 2007, the construction of the six zones was almost completed, costing as much 27,250,000,000 RMB. The zones cover at least 10,250,000 square meters, consisting of 36 universities and colleges with a total enrolment of 370,000 students.

In Zhejiang, the gross enrollment rate at institutes of tertiary education has reached 38, topping all provinces in China. It is 18 higher than that of 2002.

The admission rate for those who sit the National College Entrance examination maintains over 70 each year. Moreover, reforms in the management, educational system and logistics have also been deepened. Zhejiang now has 77 institutes of tertiary education, including 12 universities, 17 colleges, three junior colleges and 45 vocational schools, among which five are national-level universities.

Zhejiang now has 8 universities authorised to grant doctorates, 362 PhD programs, and 750 disciplines entitled to grant master’s degrees.

In the recent five years, institutes of higher education have won 33 National Natural Science Awards, Scientific Progress Awards and Scientific Invention Awards, which account for 50 of all the awards won by Zhejiang Province in the corresponding period.

At the National Commendation Conference for Science and Technology, universities and colleges in Zhejiang has won 16 Scientific Achievement Awards, and five of which are Awards of Technical Inventions, accounting for 10 of the awards granted nationwide.

In order to render itself into a province that excels in education, Zhejiang has set up a high goal. In 2010, the achievements of the 15-Year Education Plan are expected to be consolidated, while continuous improvements on the quality of education are also on the agenda.

Also, higher education is expected to be further popularized by mounting up the gross enrollment rate to 45. In 2020, a well-organised system of contemporary education and a supporting system for educational development are to be established. The development of education in rural areas and in urban areas will also be paid with equal attention. The quality of education should be significantly improved, providing adequate human and intelligence resources to ensure that the province would fully implement the developing strategy of “Carving out for affluence and pitching in with innovation”, in order to build a well-off and modernized society.

2. Demands for Talents in Zhejiang

After conducting research into the current industrial and skill structure in Zhejiang province, the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission and other relevant departments have reached the conclusion that Zhejiang’s strategic industries does not conform with the skill structure of its labor force.

Firstly, it starves for high-level talents both in the fields of innovated technology and regular areas.

Secondly, it lacks technology renovators, experts in high-tech, internationalized talents and professionals in science. This hampers the technological renovation capacity of companies in Zhejiang.

Thirdly, the province is devoid of technicians of senior expertise. This has exerted severe limitations on the development of enterprises, and posed obstacles along Zhejiang’s way to a developed manufacturing center.

Fourthly, it is also bothered by a lack of talents adept in modern service industry, especially valuators, designers, financier, experts in investment, lawyers and brokers.

During the 11th Five-year Plan, Zhejiang’s talents can hardly satisfy the needs of its strategic industries. It is estimated that in 2010, Zhejiang will need 201,000 IT specialists, 65,000 biological and medical professionals, more than 3,500 professionals specializing in modern material technology, 27,000 technicians who integrate optical, mechanical and electromechanical expertise, 64,800 technicians who excel in special light processing, 83,000 fabricants of vehicles and transportation facilities, 143,000 makers of appliances, 51,000 professionals specializing in producing dedicated devices, 88,000 talents in textile and the rag trade, and 17,000 professionals in the iron and steel industry.

In addition, the Province also needs a total of number of 800,000 service personnel in the culture industry, modern logistics, finance and insurance, real estate industry and intermediary services. From the perspectives of majors and expertise, Zhejiang is pressed for technicians in modern material science, new energy, biological technology, modern pharmacy, and environmental protection. It also lacks professionals in finance, insurance and law, especially inter-disciplinary and innovative ones. From the perspective of industrial structure, Zhejiang’s primary industry is supported by a labor force large in number yet mediocre in quality.

Experts in the modern agricultural technology are in desperate need, while primary industry is also suffering from a lack of talents with senior expertise, especially in those highly advanced and sophisticated technology. Also, current talents engaged in the secondary industry (it provides the greatest job opportunities), though large in number, are undesirable in their qualities to meet the province’s future development.

The province also suffers from an irrational structure, low benefits, and a lack of talents in the service sector, which severely hampers the development of the industry.