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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1981)
page 2 daily nebraskan thursday, april 16, 1931 Professor; College competition tougher in China By Patti Gallagher In the United States about 50 percent of all high school graduates enter more than 3,000 colleges or uni versities. In China, during 1979, 5 million high-school graduates completed the uniform entrance exam, offered nationally only once a year. Only 300,000 were admitted to the country's 700 institutions of higher education. The competition to gain a college position in China is intense, according to Professor Shuzhung Xia, a Chinese scholar visiting NU during April. Xia, pronounced Shaw, is a vice president at Zhong han University in Canton, China. A visiting professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education, Xia is spending a month at UNL and UNO lecturing on political science and higher education. Difficult entry to the universities is not the only differ ence between higher education in the United States and China, Xia said. College students in China are required to live on cam pus, as are faculty members. They must pass a physical examination to ensure they are in good enough health (or thV vigorous academic schedule. As undergraduates, they are not allowed to marry, in order "to devote their best time and energy to study." Xia said. They attend class nearly 10 months a year, and once they chose a major, they are required to complete it. Chinese students have the impression that American students "have a good life, are very comfortable," Xia said. Chinese students do, however, have two benefits not provided American students. Their entire school costs are paid by the state and they are guaranteed jobs upon grad uation. Guaranteed job placement is the major reason the stu dents are not allowed to change majors, Xia said. For every 100 students admitted to a field, 100 state jobs will be ready after four years, he said. Xia said the policy may change, but "for the time being it's the best we can do." Job placement ensures the state has a constant and pre specil'ied labor force, Xia said. "There is an obligation, a sense of responsibility to do a better job to serve the people, to help the nation," Xia said. Few students object to this philosophy, he said. They expect to stay in China after college, he said. At Zhongshan University, Xia's responsibilities as vice president are mainly administrative. He was formerly a university dean and instructor. Xia received a law degree in China in 1943, and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard in 1946. Xia has been at the Canton University for 34 years. Xia was invited to NU by President Ronald Roskens. who visited China two years ago. Xia will return to Harvard May 1. In July he will return to China. I 04 1 Kf& If iPii i ni . s $mhwm' i r: v v ' Jy stuff The Campus Red Cross will meet tonight at 6 in the Nebraska Union. Room number will be posted. All-University Fund will meet tonight at 7 in the Ne braska Union. Room numb er will be posted. The Home Fconoinics Fducation Association will meet tonight at 0:30 in the Home Fconomics Buildni" Room 121. Fast Campus Gavel Club will meet tonight in the Ne braska Fast Union at S:3(). Room number will be post ed. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship will have its weekly large group meet in;: Friday at 7 p.m. in the Ne braska Union. Room numb er will be posted. Non-traditional Students Association will have a luncheon Friday from 1 1 :30 a.m. to 1 :30 p.m. in the Nebraska Union. The UNL Student Vet erans Organization has cop ies of the petition asking for retained benefits at the Ne braska Union, Room 338. Treasurer LeRoy Sheldon said the petition would be there until the May 22 "Welcome Home" march in Washington, IXC. Selection day for teachers on Saturday The teacher placement directors of the Nebraska colleges are hosting "Teach er Selection Pay" Satimlav . The conference will him: school administrators ami teacher candidates together tor interviews. The purpose is to help school adminis trators fill teaching vacan cies, and provide teaching opportunities for leacliei candidates. "Teacher Select mi Pay." sponsored b the Nebraska Association oi School. College and Uni versity Stalling, will haw schools from Nebraska and surrounding states partici pating. It will h? at the Nebraska Center tor (on limiing Fducation on I .it Campus. Hotli experienced and inexperienced teacher candidates arc invited to particiapte.