UK Immigration: The saying that returning students become "seaweed" (unemployed) once caused quite a stir. In fact, the difficulty in finding a job often stems from choosing the wrong major during one's studies abroad. As the trend of studying abroad continues to surge at a rapid rate of nearly 20% annually, how to choose a major scientifically and reasonably has become a challenge for more and more students and parents. At the 2015 Spring International Education Exhibition, a question frequently asked by students was: "What should I study to ensure I can find a job when I return?" The author discussed this issue with numerous overseas university admissions officers, and the general advice received is that students should first analyze their own strengths and weaknesses rather than blindly following the crowd. At the same time, they must pay closer attention to current social needs and development trends to avoid choosing a major blindly, only to find upon returning that there are no career prospects.
The author reviewed the 2014 Blue Book on Employment of Chinese College Graduates compiled by the third-party research firm Mycos, which revealed that the major category with the highest employment rate for the 2013 undergraduate cohort six months after graduation was Engineering (90.2%), meaning that over 90% of engineering students found employment. In contrast, several of the most popular majors from a few years ago, such as English, Law, and WorldWay, were among the top ten majors with the highest unemployment rates.
These data are not only a reflection of current social needs but, from a long-term perspective, will also influence students' choices for further studies. Combining social demand with one's own strengths and interests is the key to choosing a major. Looking at the table, apart from Financial Engineering, Preschool Education, and Medical Imaging, the rest are engineering majors. Earthquake Engineering not only has the highest employment rate but is also the only major with a 100% employment rate.
Upon careful analysis, the rise of Earthquake Engineering is no coincidence. China is a country prone to earthquakes. Following major seismic events from the 1978 Tangshan earthquake to the more recent Wenchuan and Yushu earthquakes, society has paid high attention to earthquakes and earthquake research. In 2008, China successfully hosted the 14th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, which also demonstrated the nation's expectation for international discussion and exchange on earthquake engineering-related issues, as well as its call for learning from advanced foreign experience to improve its own seismic technology and design standards. The gap between China and the international community in earthquake research and seismic technology is the fundamental reason for the current situation of supply falling short of demand.
In 2010, the University of Bristol, in collaboration with the British Council, organized a unique competition: the Seismic Building Design Challenge. Student teams from over twenty universities across the country participated in this challenge. After carrying over 100 entries through online preliminary and semi-final rounds, earthquake engineering experts from the University of Bristol determined which seismic building design proposals would enter the top 15 for the finals. The final was held on November 27 at Tongji University in Shanghai. The finalist teams were required to formally present their design proposals to an expert panel and build models of their designs on-site to be tested on a "simulated earthquake shaking table." The "simulated earthquake shaking table" can replicate the conditions of an earthquake, thereby confirming which building model is the most effective at "seismic resistance."
The competition selected winners for the Grand Prize, Best Design Proposal Presentation, and Best Model. The Grand Prize-winning team was awarded a trip to the UK to participate in a research project under the guidance of the professional research team at the University of Bristol, allowing them to not only personally experience the excellent teaching model of this century-old university, which ranks 27th globally, but also to fully appreciate the unique culture and innovative spirit of the UK.
Do not just focus on those crowded so-called "popular majors." Look at the latest demands in both domestic and international markets. Choose the right major, and returning students will definitely become highly sought-after talent!
