China has no online degrees

[smartdegree]

Interesting article. 

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2021-12-10-...moocs-rise


The only comment I have is perhaps the Chinese government is afraid of online cheating.  I know that was an issue with standardized testing in China (e.g. GMAT, GRE).  Paying someone to take your exam is an industry there. 

The implication here is enormous in terms of $$$.  If China opens up to online degrees, you have a potentially new massive market for US for-profits.

[Johann]

... If China opens up to online degrees, you have a potentially new massive market for US for-profits.

If China decided to market degrees abroad - delivered in English - then you'd have massive competition - at an unbelievably low price. It could be the end of many US for-profits.

[smartdegree]

... If China opens up to online degrees, you have a potentially new massive market for US for-profits.

If China decided to market degrees abroad - delivered in English - then you'd have massive competition - at an unbelievably low price. It could be the end of many US for-profits.

That's an interesting point.  Although I am not 100% sure that Americans would be as receptive to receiving a Chinese degree as the Chinese are in getting an American one.  If it was one of the elite schools like Peking or Tsinghua offering the degrees I could see that as an easy sell to Chinese Americans.  However, not sure the average American will see a Chinese degree as equivalent to one from low-tuition schools in Europe (Spain, Italy, Germany etc.) or even India.  Tensions with China obviously haven't helped, with a Chinese education likely to be perceived as being a "communist" education (e.g. economics degrees focused on Karl Marx rather than Adam Smith).

[ss20ts]

... If China opens up to online degrees, you have a potentially new massive market for US for-profits.

If China decided to market degrees abroad - delivered in English - then you'd have massive competition - at an unbelievably low price. It could be the end of many US for-profits.

I don't think so. I don't see many Americans wanting a degree from a Chinese school. Many Americans aren't exactly thrilled with China. Why would a Chinese degree spell the end for for-profit schools? There are already many cheaper options available yet they still succeed all due to marketing. There's no way to spin a Chinese a degree into something many Americans would want.

[Alpha]

The article indicates that two of the main reasons the Chinese haven't taken the plunge into online degrees are that they don't have enough faculty to handle the surge that would occur.  Also, the existing faculty are not adequately trained to make the shift to online.  The Chinese have worked hard to raise their stature in the world rankings and they don't want to see it drop by prematurely jumping into the online degree world.  The estimate was 5 years but who knows?  They'll likely start out with some specialty degrees in the tech field.  Maybe some Chinese language/culture offerings.  As for marketing, I imagine that the last place they're going to market these degrees is the US.  I'd guess that Africa would be the biggest target, followed by other parts of Asia.  The US market is already saturated.  US schools are already running with empty seats (metaphorically speaking).
https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/08/chi...belt-road/

[Johann]

  ....US schools are already running with empty seats (metaphorically speaking)....

Indeed so. And if ANY other country came out with another set of quality distance programs that would meet US evaluators' equivalency standards - at a fraction of US cost - there might be MANY MORE of those empty seats. Many, if not most people are ABSOLUTELY BLIND when it comes to saving money.

I'm hazarding a guess here - perhaps Chinese reluctance to start distance programs might be because Li Xinping's Government finds it easier to survey and control the minds and actions of students (and professors) on the ground - rather than remotely - in cyberspace? 

Don't forget Tiananmen Square!

[smartdegree]

  ....US schools are already running with empty seats (metaphorically speaking)....

Indeed so. And if ANY other country came out with another set of quality distance programs that would meet US evaluators' equivalency standards - at a fraction of US cost - there might be MANY MORE of those empty seats. Many, if not most people are ABSOLUTELY BLIND when it comes to saving money.

I'm hazarding a guess here - perhaps Chinese reluctance to start distance programs might be because Li Xinping's Government finds it easier to survey and control the minds and actions of students (and professors) on the ground - rather than remotely - in cyberspace? 

Don't forget Tiananmen Square!

It might actually be easier to spread propaganda online because you can control the curriculum.   Particularly if they video the sessions, fear will come into play and everyone will align with whatever topic is being discussed. 
I think that might actually be the biggest negative if you're an American pursuing an online Chinese degree.  Imagine giving your own Western-based thoughts during class that somehow opposes the government's view.  You think nothing of it.  Then when you travel to China to attend your graduation, you suddenly are arrested for speaking your mind.  Not worth the cheaper tuition I think.  But who knows what people will do to save money.

[Alpha]

I think it could be a great premise for a spy novel:  Excellent student enters Chinese university, gets recruited by the CIA, adventure ensues

[bjcheung77]

I think it could be a great premise for a spy novel:  Excellent student enters Chinese university, gets recruited by the CIA, adventure ensues

That's interesting to say the least... LOL, I just watched the latest James Bond movie last week (No time to die).