China cuts 12,000 university programs to ready workforce for AI era

China announced a sweeping reform of higher education. Officials say 12,000 university programs will be removed. The change aims to align curricula with the emerging AI era. The move reflects a national strategy to boost technological competitiveness. Universities will be urged to focus on AI‑related subjects. Students in discontinued programs will be redirected to other fields. The policy underscores the government's commitment to future‑ready skills. Analysts will monitor how the reforms impact the talent pipeline.