JAKARTA Several leading universities in China announced plans to expand acceptance of undergraduate students to prioritize what they refer to as "national strategic needs". They want to develop talents in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).
The announcement comes after universities in China launched an AI course in February 2025 based on the AI DeepSeek startup. The startup has attracted widespread attention as its success in creating an AI model that is comparable to the most advanced technology in the United States, but at a much lower cost. DeepSeek's success is even described as a "Sputnik moment" for China.
Analysts say that DeepSee's success, which is almost entirely supported by researchers from the domestic elite university, shows how Beijing's great investment in building local STEM talent, as well as visa restrictions for Chinese students by the United States, has helped the country catch up in AI.
Peking University announced on Saturday 8 March that it will add 150 undergraduate student quotas by 2025 to focus on fields deemed "important to national strategic interests", including information and technology science, engineering, and clinical medicine.
Renmin University also announced on the same day that it would add more than 100 student quotas in areas such as AI to increase innovation. According to the university, this expansion is "deeply related" to plans to make China a "state with strong education" and focuses on developing talent in the digital era.
SEE ALSO:
Meanwhile, Shanghai Jiao Tong University will add 150 new quotas for " cutting-edge technology" and "very much needed" industries, such as AI, integrated circuits, biomedicals, health services, and new energy.
In January 2025, China published its first national action plan to build a "state with strong education" by 2035. This plan aims to improve education development coordination, increase innovation efficiency, and strengthen China's position as a developed country in the field of science and technology.
In December 2024, China's education authorities also announced that they will start including AI education in the elementary and secondary school curriculum. This step aims to foster creativity, interest in science, and digital skills among students from an early age.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
