The recent announcement from Communication University of China (CUC), a leading institution in media and communication studies, has ignited widespread debate across China's higher education landscape. During the 2026 National People's Congress (NPC) sessions, CUC Party Secretary Liao Xiangzhong revealed that the university had halted undergraduate enrollment in 16 majors and sub-directions last year. This bold move, framed as a proactive response to the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, has left students, parents, and educators grappling with questions about the future of traditional programs like translation and photography.

While some hail it as visionary adaptation to technological shifts, others decry it as premature disruption, fearing it sidelines time-tested fields amid China's youth unemployment crisis, where graduate joblessness hovers around 15-20% in creative sectors. This adjustment underscores a pivotal moment in Chinese higher education, where universities are urged by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to dynamically realign curricula with national strategies like 'Double First-Class' initiatives and AI integration.

Background on CUC's Professional Overhaul

Founded in 1959, Communication University of China stands as China's premier hub for journalism, broadcasting, film, and digital media education, boasting over 20,000 students and alumni in top media roles. Under Liao's leadership since 2018, CUC embarked on a comprehensive 'four batches' reform strategy: closing underperforming programs, upgrading key ones, constructing new flagships, and planning emerging fields. This culminated in the 2025 decision to phase out 16 undergraduate offerings, part of a seven-year effort to revamp nearly all disciplines.

The process aligns with MOE guidelines for annual professional audits, ensuring alignment with industry demands. From 2018 to 2025, CUC added 20 innovative majors while trimming those misaligned with AI-driven changes. Liao emphasized in his NPC remarks that static curricula cannot match AI's pace, citing ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 video generator as a 'shocking' catalyst that automates creative tasks once central to these programs.

Affected Majors: From Translation to Comics

Though CUC has not published a exhaustive public list, reports and official disclosures highlight key casualties, blending full majors with sub-directions. Notable examples include:

• Translation (翻译专业): Impacted by AI tools like DeepL and real-time interpreters.
• Photography (摄影): Merged into Film and Television Photography & Production, as standalone technical training becomes obsolete.
• Visual Communication Design (视觉传达设计)
• Art Management (艺术管理)
• Comics (漫画), a national top-ranker
• International Economics & Trade (国际经济与贸易)
• Sociology (社会学)
• Applied Statistics (应用统计学)

2025 MOE filings confirm seven full majors proposed for revocation, with the 16 encompassing directions. Existing students complete studies unaffected, transitioning to enhanced curricula incorporating AI post-production.CUC's official disclosures detail annual updates.

AI Disruption: The Core Catalyst

Generative AI's ascent—exemplified by models generating videos, translations, and images—has eroded demand for skill-heavy undergrad training. Liao noted AI handles 'routine' tasks, freeing humans for strategic, creative oversight in a 'human-machine division of labor' era. China's media industry, valued at over 2 trillion RMB, faces automation: 70% of photography workflows now AI-assisted per industry reports.

Employment data amplifies urgency: 2025 saw 11.8 million grads, with media majors' placement rates dipping to 85% amid oversupply. CUC's move preempts broader trends, as seen in English major cuts at other unis due to translation AI.

CUC's 'Four Batches' Reform in Action

CUC's strategy systematically categorizes majors:

• Close & Merge: 16 cases, redirecting resources.
• Upgrade: Infuse AI into survivors like broadcasting.
• Key Construction: 11 national 'Double First-Class' programs bolstered.
• Plan New: Game Science & Tech, Esports Management, Branding Studies for 2025 intake.

This 'classroom revolution' rethinks knowledge points, pivoting from rote skills to interdisciplinary thinking. Faculty embrace it, viewing mergers as evolution, not loss.Crafting a competitive CV now emphasizes AI literacy.

Stakeholder Reactions: Alarm and Optimism

Parents flood forums, dubbing it a 'major minefield' for 2026 Gaokao aspirants. One Weibo user lamented, 'My child dreamed of comics—now what?' Experts like Peking University Prof. Li praise it as 'bold foresight,' aligning with NEP 2020's flexibility push.

Students report mixed feelings: seniors relieved for timely pivot, freshmen anxious. Liao's 'no panic' retort highlights mergers sustain essence—photography lives via advanced integration. Labor unions note faculty redeployment to grad programs.

Ripples Across Chinese Higher Education

CUC's precedent echoes nationally: 2025 saw 100+ programs axed MOE-wide, targeting low-employment fields. Tsinghua and Fudan integrate AI curricula, while vocational colleges surge in digital media hybrids. Stats: 60% GER (gross enrollment ratio) by 2025, demanding quality over quantity.

Challenges persist—rural students hit hardest by urban media focus—but solutions emerge: cross-province transfers, online upskilling. For global context, similar US cuts in journalism amid AI.Read Liao's full response.

New Frontiers: Majors Gaining Traction

CUC counters cuts with futures-oriented additions:

• Intelligent Imaging Technology
• Game Art Design
• Intelligent Audiovisual Engineering
• International News & Communication

These tap esports market (500B RMB) and metaverse boom, projecting 95% placement. Broader advice: Blend media with data science via minors.

Career Implications and Actionable Advice

Impacted grads pivot to AI ethics, content strategy—roles growing 30% annually. Steps:

1. Upskill in tools like Midjourney, ChatGPT via MOOCs.
2. Intern at Tencent/Baidu media arms.
3. Pursue masters in surviving CUC programs.

Explore higher ed jobs or China university opportunities for resilient paths. Rate My Professor for program insights.

Future Outlook: Resilient Reforms Ahead

China's HE eyes 2035 'education powerhouse' status, with AI as cornerstone. CUC exemplifies 'painful but necessary' transitions, promising human-centric innovation. Watch for MOE's 2026 audit wave.

Prospective students: Prioritize adaptability. Institutions: Embrace data-driven tweaks. As Liao asserts, 'Humanities core endures, fused with tech.'

Photo by Beth Macdonald on Unsplash

In summary, CUC's halt of 16 majors signals a paradigm shift, balancing tradition with tomorrow. Stay informed via higher education news, job hunt on university jobs, and career tips at higher ed career advice. Post-a-job for recruiters: here.