China is considering adjusting its undergraduate courses, with some majors expected to be phased out next year or in 2008.

University presidents attending a week-long forum argued on Monday that specializations such as management and law should be scrapped as undergraduate degrees.

The president of Beijing Normal University, Zhong Binglin, said courses such as educational, administration and commercial management are not practical for 18-year-old freshmen who don't have relevant backgrounds and experiences.

His view was echoed by International Business and Economics University President Chen Zhunmin. He said it is not easy for students majoring in management from his university to find a job.

He added it's a bit impractical for undergraduate students to learn human resources management because most of them can't deal with things properly for themselves, let alone manage staff in a company.

Presently, the University of International Business and Economics only enrolls students studying human resources management every other year.

Xiamen University President Zhu Chongshi believes law should be taught only as a basic rather than professional course at the undergraduate level.

He said postgraduate law courses provide practical know-how for dealing with real problems, leaving little opportunity for undergraduates to compete with them in this field.

He advised those who are devoted to studying law to equip themselves with relevant knowledge before pursuing postgraduate study.

He added for higher education in the US, many specializations are excluded at the undergraduate level. 
 
(CRI July 18, 2006)