Covering the business of education and training

China is doing its darndest to expand its higher-ed system.

Since 2000 China has doubled it investments in colleges and universities to just under $12 billion during the five years ending in 2004.

Additionally, China has tripled the land aread devoted to campuses.

In response - the number of university students has also grown from 3.4 million in 1998 to more than 16 million today. That number is expected to double by 2020.

Did you hear that? All the college cash registers are saying kaching!  And, don't think for a moment that the fopros don't have their eyes on China. One school contacted me this week about my experiences with education and business in China.

China, not unlike its American counterparts has found the majority of the moneies allotted have somehow found their way into a select few premier colleges and universities.

This phenomenon might be blamed on President Jiang Zemin's decision to develop world-class universities by funneling millions into a handful of elite univiersities. I wonder what the excuse in the US is.

Tsinghua and Peking University each got $225 million. Shanghai Jiaotong and Nanjing Universities each got $150 million each.

However - world class was not defined. As a result universities did what they did best - argued about how to spend the money.

For now -

1. Highering internationally known scholars and paying them bundles

2. Buying advanced lab equipment

3. Conducting research

4. Improving campus facilities

are the priorities.

Is it any wonder that when academics are put in charge of spending money, they will spend it on themselves first?

What about the students?

It seems Chinese universities are no better at managing money than their American counterparts.

What do you think?

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