Since the launch of ChatGPT two years ago, the global race for AI dominance has intensified, with China positioning itself as a strong competitor to the US. Through vast investments in AI research and development, China aims to secure its role as a leader, and higher education institutions are at the core of this effort.
Universities are increasingly being counted on as both training grounds for AI talent and incubators for AI technologies.
China’s universities are rapidly adapting to meet national AI ambitions, creating a ripple effect in global competition, academia, and talent acquisition.
Accelerated AI push
Following the buzz around generative AI tools, Chinese universities and companies have prioritised the development of their own generative AI models.
Since recognising AI as a specialised major in 2018, the Chinese government alone has dedicated billions of dollars in investment for AI. A few years ago, the country declared its intention to become the world’s primary AI innovation centre by 2030.
To achieve this, the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE) encourages its universities to delve into the intersection of AI with various fields such as mathematics, statistics, computer science, psychology, physics, biology, sociology and law. It also supports institutions to establish AI centres and think-tanks to drive AI innovation and policy development. Other key areas of focus are increasing international partnerships, supporting domestic students studying AI abroad, increasing scholarships for international students, and creating a conducive environment for AI research and development.
Zengchang Qin, a Beijing-based AI researcher, notes the impact of government-led investment on university-based AI research which is “spurring the creation of new AI research centres and encouraging collaborations between universities and industry, especially in fields like natural language processing, computer vision and intelligent robotics.”
“New AI research centres and industry collaborations are bridging theoretical research and practical applications,” says Qin.
Greater focus on institutions
Since the Ministry of Education (MoE) designated AI as a major in 2018, driven by the 2017 New Generation AI Development Plan, over 2,300 undergraduate programmes have emerged, aligning academic goals with national objectives.
In the last few years, universities, particularly those with robust AI programmes, are experiencing greater push by the government to contribute to national AI objectives. According to Qin, “Chinese universities are aligning their programmes with national AI development strategies by establishing new departments, majors, and interdisciplinary AI curricula.”
For instance, universities have rolled out courses dedicated to machine learning, and robotics, all while creating partnerships with key state-owned enterprises and private tech giants to facilitate AI research to satisfy social needs. “The fact is, AI programmes are becoming the one of most competitive majors in universities,” observes Qin.
To further boost its AI ambitions, China is also laying more emphasis on local talent, encouraging Chinese students, researchers and scientists who studied or worked abroad to return home.
A Stanford University study by the Center on China’s Economy and Institutions in July 2024, highlights this “reverse brain drain” strategy underscores the government’s intent to retain expertise within China, particularly for Chinese scientists in the US.
Read the full article in 23rd edition of QS Insights Magazine.
