China is mass closing humanities majors and shifting universities to AI and robotics

The Chinese authorities continue a large-scale restructuring of the higher education system, adapting it to the tasks of the country’s technological development. Over the past five years, Chinese universities have canceled or frozen more than 12,000 educational programs, while launching more than 10,000 new majors related to artificial intelligence, robotics, microelectronics, and data analysis. China’s Ministry of Education estimates that the changes affected more than 30% of all undergraduate programs in the country, making the reform one of the largest in the modern history of Chinese education.

Humanities under attack

The most noticeable changes took place in the humanitarian sector. Programs in foreign languages, management, art, design, literature and a number of social sciences were cut. The authorities explain such measures as a growing gap between university training and the needs of the labor market.

In recent years, Chinese employers have increasingly faced a shortage of technical specialists, while the number of graduates in humanitarian fields continues to grow. Many of them experience difficulties in finding employment after graduating from university. According to Chinese authorities, the unemployment rate among graduates of some humanitarian specialties significantly exceeds the indicators in engineering and technological fields.

The scale of the reform is directly related to the situation on the labor market. Youth unemployment in China remains one of the most serious social problems of recent years. Among citizens aged 16 to 24, the indicator ranges from 15 to 19%. Additional pressure is exerted by the constant growth of the number of graduates. In 2026 alone, Chinese universities will graduate about 12.7 million people — this is a record figure for the entire history of the country.

AI becomes the basis of the new educational policy

In parallel with the closure of old programs, Chinese universities are actively opening new directions of training that correspond to the strategic priorities of the state.

The main focus is on artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductor engineering, machine learning, data science and manufacturing automation. These industries are viewed by Beijing as key elements of the country’s long-term economic strategy and technological independence.

Special attention is paid to a new direction called Embodied Intelligence. It is about creating systems in which artificial intelligence algorithms work together with physical devices — industrial robots, autonomous vehicles, service machines and humanoid platforms.

Several Chinese universities have already launched full-fledged educational programs in this specialization. Such courses are directly related to the state program for the development of robotics and the accelerated implementation of AI in industry, logistics, medicine and the service sector.

Part of traditional professions is being replaced by AI

Education reform also reflects changes taking place in the labor market under the influence of technology. Some universities openly admit that a number of disciplines are losing relevance due to the spread of generative AI and automated systems.

So, in one of the scientific and technical universities of Shanghai, it was decided to stop recruiting for a program related to the development of new products. The representatives of the university explained this by the fact that many tasks in the field of industrial design, three-dimensional modeling and visualization today are increasingly performed with the help of neural networks and specialized algorithms.

Changes also affected creative specialties. Some universities have begun to combine previously independent areas of training into larger programs. For example, several courses related to film and television production have been combined into a single educational track focused on today’s digital media, streaming services and the short film industry.

China is reshaping education for the economy of the future

Experts say the current reform is part of Beijing’s broader strategy to transform its economy. The government is seeking to reduce its reliance on foreign technology while training people for industries that will give the country a competitive edge in the coming decades.

China is already investing heavily in artificial intelligence, microchip manufacturing, robotics and automation. Restructuring university programs is seen as one way to provide these industries with qualified specialists.

At the same time, some scholars warn of the potential risks of an over-concentration on technical subjects. They say that massive cuts to liberal arts programs could lead to a reduction in the diversity of the education system and a shortage of specialists in culture, communications, international relations and social sciences.

Despite the criticism, the Chinese government’s course remains unchanged. The country’s universities continue to adapt rapidly to the demands of the digital economy, and artificial intelligence and robotics are gradually transforming from separate specialties to the basis of China’s new education model.