Earlier this week, China’s Ministry of education sent out a circular asking universities to allow students to take time off while earning their degrees to start their own businesses, according to the SCMP. Students are encouraged to create online business to attract funding and support from finance institutions, NGOs, and trade associations.
In the past, Chinese students have typically been pushed to complete their degrees in four consecutive years. It’s rare for a student to take a “gap year”, which is a fairly common practice at western universities.
As the number of China’s college graduates continues to accelerate, more and more of them are finding a lack of employment options for which they are qualified. Unemployment among new graduates six months after leaving university is around 15 percent. This initiative aims to reduce the number of graduates – estimated to increase 220,000 to 7.5 million next summer – and create new opportunities to help ease the burden on the job market.
SCMP reports universities will also be required to offer entrepreneurship courses and bring in business owners and investors as mentors.
See: Jack Ma explains why China’s education system fails to produce innovators
This post Chinese college students encouraged to take time off and try out new business ideas appeared first on Tech in Asia.
Chinese college students encouraged to take time off and try out new business ideas
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