So many new universities – Where will the staff come from?
As part of China’s plan to turn Southern Guangdong province into a technology hub – under the Greater Bay Area plan for Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in Guangdong with a combined population of 72 million – 11 new universities are on track to open for enrolment this year alone, with many more planned for the next few years.
Some are brand new institutions and others are branch campuses of existing universities or expanded new campuses with new degree-awarding powers. But with such fast and massive expansion, some experts question whether they can attract enough faculty with doctoral degrees to ensure the quality education the region aspires to.