China needs academic shake-up for more innovations like DeepSeek, scholar says
South China Morning PostSaturday, May 31, 2025 at 12:00:08 PM
A prominent Chinese academic is calling for an overhaul of the country's doctoral education system, arguing that its obsession with paper counts and lack of groundbreaking research is stifling innovation. At a recent forum, Wang Shuguo, president of Fuyao University, pointed to AI firm DeepSeek as an example of what China could achieve if it nurtured more unconventional talent—suggesting its founder might never have succeeded if bogged down by traditional PhD requirements.
Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about academia—it’s a critique of how rigid systems can smother creativity. DeepSeek’s rise as a homegrown AI standout makes the argument personal: China’s push for global tech leadership might hinge on whether it can break free from bureaucratic metrics and let innovators breathe. If even insiders like Wang are sounding the alarm, it suggests the system’s flaws are too glaring to ignore.
— Curated via WP Now’s
