Adapt or perish: the humanities fight to survive China’s hi-tech rise

The role of the humanities in China’s education system has come under scrutiny as the country pushes for scientific advancement and a hi-tech workforce.

In recent years, several top Chinese universities have announced plans to slash arts and social science enrolments while promoting STEM majors – or science, technology, engineering and mathematics – in line with Beijing’s aggressive hi-tech push.

While some have questioned the value of the humanities in the modern economy, observers noted that the fields still had their place and were evolving to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology, giving rise to new interdisciplinary fields.

Wang Jun, dean of the school of philosophy at Zhejiang University, one of China’s top institutions, said the argument that the humanities were “useless” neglected long-term value in favour of short-term utilitarianism.

“Throughout history, each technological leap has temporarily constrained the space for the liberal arts, but society ultimately needs to return to the humanistic spirit to address fundamental issues,” he said in an interview with The Paper, a Shanghai-based media outlet, on April 22.

“The value of the liberal arts lies not in directly generating gross domestic product (GDP), but in preserving the complexity and diversity of human civilisation.”

Education in China has historically been shaped by the sociopolitical landscape.

South China Morning Post