Starting yesterday, recruitment of graduates 2003 begins as companies are allowed to station in colleges and universities to hire fresh graduates.

This year, the market will be tough, according universities in Beijing, home to a large number of prestigious high educational institutions.

In 2003, 2.12 million students are expected to graduate from universities nationwide, nearly a half up from the 1.45 million in 2002.

The boom in the graduates is a result of the enrollment expansion strategy China's universities have been adopting starting 1999. After four years' study, students enrolled that year will be graduating in 2003.

Job opportunities don't grow as the student boom, however, according to the universities.

Citing a well known information technology company in Shenzhen, south China, for example, Li Guozhong, dean of the career center of Peking University, said "the company remains cautious this year, while in the previous years, it announced to employ as many as our graduates majoring in the fields of computer and telecom."

The company is believed to be Huawei Technologies Co., though Li didn't specify its name.

Peking University is deemed the top university in China.

Students in eight fields will find it easier to find a job, according to the school's career center.

They are computer software, marketing, computer network, computer engineering, accounting, computer application, electronic engineering and secretary in order.

(eastday.com November 22, 2002)