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Difference between US and Chinese Graduate Educational Systems

From the beginning, Chinese education emphasize examination from elementary school through university. As a result, Chinese students are known being able to answer questions and score high on tests. Undergraduate students are well prepared and can do well in any place in the world. Students from Tsinghua and Beida compare with the best in the world However, it is generally recognized that the US still leads in advanced research and innovation which raises the question about the title of this blog. Having taught in both Harvard and Tsinghua for over 46 and 18 years respectively, let me venture my opinion here for thoughts and discussion.

1.  Research and innovation depend more on “asking the right question” than on “knowing the right answer”.

2.  Using examination/test to filter and promote graduate students emphasize the latter ability to the detriment of the former. In other words, creativity is not easily measured via tests of known facts/knowledge.

3.  In the US, Ph.D production and standards are mostly left to individual advisors and academic committees while in China there are more official standards and requirements. Department of Education and university  regulation have more to say and control. There are pros and cons with either approach. Both country produce a spectrum of ph.ds with widely varying qualities.

4.  However, in my opinion standards and rules tends to help insure uniformity and suppress creativity. For innovation, the role of government and organizations should be to provide the right environment to cultivate discovery and invention vs. to insure quality via regulations.

5.  Despite imperfections, there is no substitute for peer review/opinion for academic quality.

In my next blog, I’ll discuss possible reforms of the Chinese Ph.D Systems