1. Understanding China’s Education
System and Youth Culture
Kongli Liu
Assistant Director, U.S.-China Institute
Bryant University, Smithfield, RI
kliu1@bryant.edu

2. Lanzhou
Beijing

3. Snapshots
of
U.S.-China Education
Comparison and Exchanges

4. OECD
Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)
• Started in 1997
• Assessed every 3 years
• 15-year olds
• Three key subjects: reading, math and science
• Currently over 70 countries/regions participate

5. Source: http://www.oecd.org/pisa/
OECD
Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)

6. Chinese Students Studying in the U.S.
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000

7. Chinese Students Studying in the U.S.
Source: IIE Open Door Report: http://www.iie.org/Research-and-Publications/Open-
Doors/Data

8. Chinese Students Studying in the U.S.
• Reasons
• Trend
1. Age
2. Diverse majors and areas
3. Diverse education background

9. “Tiger Mom”

10. Tiger Mom
Is it really about who’s superior?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAel_qRfKx8
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaG9McaTVoI

11. Visualizing Chinese Education
• Urban vs. Rural
• Youth Culture
• Progress, Challenges & Future

38. National College Entrance
Examination (Gaokao)
• Extremely competitive
• Exam subjects (Chinese, Mathematics, Foreign
Language, Sciences or Social Studies)
• Total score is the only admission criteria for over
95% of colleges
• Extensive 3-day exams (June 7-9)
• Provinces have autonomy on test contents
• Admission rate: national (72%), urban (80-
90%), rural (30-40%)

39. National College Entrance
Examination (Gaokao)
Pros and Cons

40. Emphasis on Math, Science, and
English throughout PreK-12
• Mathematics (begins at age 3; by age 5 students
are doing what American students learn in 2nd
grade)
• English (begins by age 5 or 6 in many urban
schools, becomes mandatory at 3rd grade)
• Elementary teachers are specialized in subjects
(Chinese, math, English, etc.)
• At grade 10 or 11, students choose concentrations:
sciences or humanities

41. Education Values
• Scholarship and academic achievement are highly
valued in Chinese culture
• Education for personal cultivation, career
advancement, family glory, and serving the country
• Every child can learn and it all depends on
individual efforts
• Teachers enjoy relatively high social status
• Teacher authority in classroom
• Good teachers are not born, but trained.

46. “Chinese Idol” 2005

48. China Youth Culture
Online Videos:
China Daily: Post-80s Generation
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/video/2010-
12/23/content_11820151.htm
PBS Frontline: Young and Restless in China
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/youngchina/

49. Resources

50. Thank you!
Questions?
Kongli Liu
Assistant Director, U.S.-China Institute
Bryant University, Smithfield, RI
kliu1@bryant.edu