Chinese higher education institutions have undergone a significant shift in their approach to AI technologies in education. As demonstrated by a recent Mycos Institute survey showing that AI use has become virtually universal across Chinese universities, with only 1% of faculty and students reporting never using AI tools, while nearly 60% use them frequently—either multiple times daily or several times weekly. This attitude stands in stark contrast to Western approaches, where universities still agonise over the implications of AI use, while in China, the conversation has gradually shifted from worrying about academic integrity to encouraging AI literacy, productivity, and competitive advantage.
The cultural divide is even more apparent in public sentiment, as highlighted by Stanford University's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) report on global AI attitudes, which found that about 80% of Chinese respondents were excited about new AI services—compared with just 35% in the US and 38% in the UK. In April 2025, China's Ministry of Education released new national guidelines calling for sweeping AI+ education reforms aimed at cultivating critical thinking, digital fluency, and real-world skills at all education levels. According to Fang Kecheng, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, this attitude isn't surprising as there's a long tradition in China of believing in technology as a driver of national progress.
Top Chinese universities are actively deploying AI technologies on their campuses, such as locally hosted versions of DeepSeek that offer longer context windows, unlimited dialogue rounds, and broader functionality than public-facing free versions for students. Major institutions like Tsinghua, Remin, Nanjing, and Fudan Universities have rolled out AI courses and degree programs that are open to all students, not just computer science majors. At Zhejiang University, an introductory AI class will become mandatory for undergraduates starting in 2024. According to a report by the Chinese media outlet YiCai, 80% of job openings available to fresh graduates listed AI-related skills as a plus in 2025, demonstrating that in a slowed-down economy and competitive job market, many students see AI as a lifeline.
Sources:
Caiwei Chen
Tech Jacks Solutions
Lena Rivers
