SCIENCE -ENGINEERING- SCHEMES : CHINA'S PRECIS

 

'' A New School Of Thought In China '' : Science and engineering just aren't enough. To stay competitive, the next generation of Chinese students is heading into the future armed with liberal-arts degrees.

China's economy is making a painful break from reliance on cheap manufacturing so students and educators are beginning to wonder whether the old educational model still works.

Some question whether the utilitarian bent of  China's higher-education system has left its youth without a strong sense of morality,  contributing to rampant corruption and fraud.

'' Highly specialized education often ignores ethical, cultural and moral values,'' said Lu Fang, vice president of Fudan University in Shanghai, in a speech some years ago.

'' Along with a lack of humanity, some students are missing a sense of social responsibility.''

These uncertainties are fueling the growth of dozens of new Chinese liberal-arts institutions formed in the mold of elite U.S. colleges.

The World Students Society thanks Time Magazine's Austin Ramzy / Beijing.