World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Chinese universities test courses in everyday life skills
Several Chinese universities are testing courses in everyday skills, including safe e-bike riding, flower arranging and dorm-room organization.
The classes respond to students who say they need practical help with tasks such as navigating campus, handling housing and managing money.
A survey cited in the story found that 89.27% of students thought universities should offer life-skills courses, and 81.19% said they would take them.
But these courses remain isolated experiments rather than regular programs, often relying on individual teachers to keep them going.
Educators say universities should treat practical skills as part of student development, while keeping professional and academic learning central.
They suggest offering short sessions, optional course modules and hands-on learning through existing activities such as military training and labor education.
Universities are being urged to build lasting course structures with suitable teaching materials, staff and ways to assess practical skills.
Chinese universities are testing courses in practical life skills, including safe e-bike riding, flower arranging and dormitory organisation.
The courses have drawn student interest, but experts say they remain scattered experiments rather than a regular part of university education.
A 2024 survey cited in a China News Service report found that 89.27% of students thought universities should offer life-skills courses, and 81.19% said they would take them.
Experts say these courses can help students manage real-life challenges, but their long-term place in university curricula and teacher evaluations remains uncertain.
Some educators support embedding life skills in existing courses and practical activities rather than turning every everyday task into a credit-bearing class.
- Who
- Chinese universities, their students and educators. Universities including South China Agricultural University, Wuhan University and Zhejiang Shuren University are among those offering examples.
- What
- Universities are testing courses in practical skills such as shared e-bike riding, flower arranging and dormitory organisation.
- When
- Such courses have appeared at universities over the past two years. Nanjing University of Media and Communications offered a life-guide elective in autumn 2024.
- Where
- Universities across China, including campuses in Guangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing and Zhejiang.
- Why
- The courses aim to help students build life skills and solve practical problems. Experts say students may be missing these skills because of the emphasis on academic study.
Supporters of life-skills education
Critics of classroom life-skills courses
Necessity
Supporters of life-skills education
Supporters say courses can address students’ practical needs and help them live independently.
Critics of classroom life-skills courses
Critics say universities are not driving schools or housekeeping classes, and everyday skills should not take up limited classroom time.
How to teach
Supporters of life-skills education
Supporters propose electives, practical modules and activities integrated into existing education.
Critics of classroom life-skills courses
Critics object to turning tasks such as riding or cooking into driving-school-style, credit-bearing classes.
Nanjing University of Media and Communications offered an elective called College Students’ Life Guide, covering topics including hospital registration, medical insurance reimbursement and rental contracts.
Life-skills courses began appearing at universities in scattered trials, according to the report.
South China Agricultural University included instruction in proper shared e-bike riding in military training for first-year students.
Wuhan University literature student Wu Jielin took an elective in horticultural flower arranging.
- Student survey
- 89.27% said universities should offer life-skills courses; 81.19% said they would take one.
- South China Agricultural University
- First-year military training includes shared e-bike riding skills.
- Wuhan University
- Its “9+X” open labour-education system includes courses such as cooking, sewing and storage, flower gardening, and low-carbon living.
- Nanjing University of Media and Communications
- Its autumn 2024 elective covered hospital registration, medical insurance reimbursement and rental contracts.
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What people are saying
眼下高校开的生活课，还属于零星的“盆景”，尚未形成标准化、常态化和体系化的“风景”。
生活教育只是载体，其核心是让学生能独立生活、解决现实问题。
真正该警惕的，是把“盆景”当宣传素材，热闹一次便再无下文。
以剪刀为笔，以繁花为墨