Status analysis of geographic information science major in Chinese higher education

Abstract

ABSTRACT Geographic Information Science (GIS) Major in China has been developing and flourishing for nearly 40 years. Chinese educators have made many achievements on major construction in GIS. However, opportunities and challenges coexist under the new situation of ‘Double First-Rate’ major construction in China. Thus, investigating and analysing the major status comprehensively are necessary for enhancing the development of the GIS major. This study analyses the enrolment magnitude of undergraduate and postgraduate students, student development, construction of teaching team and professional curriculum construction for GIS majors in mainland Chinese universities. The professional survey results showed that there are about 30,000 undergraduates and 4,000 postgraduates who graduate with GIS degrees every year. However, most of the undergraduates in this major do not take gGIS as their first choice in college major selection. In addition, 190 colleges and universities have set up GIS majors, who have played an important role in the development of GIS and industry. These colleges and universities are mostly concentrated in China’s central and eastern regions. The Education and Popularization Science Working Committee of the China Association for Geographic Information Society and the Ministry of Education’s Education Committee and other institutions have also organized several meaningful activities to strengthen the guidance of the GIS professional construction. A complete education system has been established to train undergraduates and postgraduates for the development of the geographic information industry in China.