The central authorities indicated in a recent document the need to accelerate the high-quality development of research for doctoral programs. In July, the State Council announced the addition of 831 new doctorate programs. Compared to the previous round of additions in 2020, the number of new doctorate programs has significantly increased.

Technological advancements and social development have given rise to numerous fields of studies, leading to increased specialization in higher education. The 2022 version of national graduation major directory introduced new doctorate programs in fields such as meteorology and cultural heritage, with the number of professional doctoral programs increasing by 177 percent compared with the previous version.

In 2008, China surpassed the United States to become the country with the largest number of successful PhD candidates. However, considering China's large population, the proportion of PhD holders remains relatively low compared with developed countries. In the US, more than 1 percent of the population holds a doctoral degree, whereas according to China's seventh national census, about 946,500 people, or less than 0.7 percent of the population, holds a doctoral degree.

The focus on doctoral research must not overlook quality. Currently, some universities have a low supervisor-to-candidate ratio in doctoral programs.

To promote the high-quality development of doctoral research, a more scientific assessment and evaluation system must be established.

-THEPAPER.CN