CULTIVATING EMPLOYMENT-ORIENTED INTERDISCIPLINARY HIGH-QUALITY FOREIGN LANGUAGE TALENTS IN CHINESE UNIVERSITIES: PATHWAYS AND OUTCOMES IN THE AI ERA

Yang Feng, Wenqi Dong

Abstract


Based on survey and interview data with 56 HR managers, business supervisors, deans of foreign language schools, discipline leaders, class advisors, and counselors, as well as 317 graduates from foreign language majors across 10 universities engaged in dual-degree or micro-specialization reforms, together with responses from 6 large enterprises in China, this study offers an updated picture of talent needs and educational outcomes. The findings reveal that employers now limit their recruitment to graduates with a single foreign language degree. Instead, there is a strong demand for graduates with an interdisciplinary profile— “Foreign Language + AI Applications/Computer Science/Cross-border E-commerce/International Trade/Area Studies/International Relations.” Such graduates not only receive significantly more job offers but also enjoy a starting salary that is typically 30–50% higher than their single-major counterparts. Similarly, students who obtained a dual degree or a micro-specialization besides their foreign language major reported substantially better employment rates, higher job quality, and a greater likelihood of pursuing postgraduate study. Employment outcomes show a clear hierarchy: interdisciplinary dual degree > foreign language + micro-specialization > single foreign language major, with salary gaps at each level exceeding 20–30%. However, due to factors such as training philosophy and a lack of interdisciplinary faculty, the number of universities that have begun to reform and offer interdisciplinary dual degree and micro speciality teaching in foreign language majors is limited. It is recommended that universities increase investment in interdisciplinary faculty, strengthen the offering of "foreign language + interdisciplinary" dual degree courses, and actively explore undergraduate and graduate programs that fit the needs of enterprises, such as "foreign language + interdisciplinary triple degree" or "foreign language + interdisciplinary dual degree + interdisciplinary micro-specialization tracks ".

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter


Keywords


Chinese higher education; interdisciplinary foreign language talents; training pathways and effectiveness; survey and recommendations

Full Text:

PDF

References


Cui, Y., Zhou, L., & Zhang, S. (2024). Transformation and reconstruction of foreign language talent cultivation in the AI era. Foreign Language Education in China, (4), 32–36+105.

Deng, S., & Wang, X. (2024). Research on the development of foreign language disciplines from the perspective of New Liberal Arts: Current situation, paradigms, and trends. Foreign Languages and Literature Studies (Monograph), (1), 192–210. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:WGJK.0.2024-01-015

Dong, Y. (2024). Cultivating global competence in postgraduate English courses: Conceptual framework and teaching practice. Foreign Language World, (4), 89–96.

Du, M. (2025). Exploring strategies for the development of foreign language teaching in universities in the AI era. Language and Culture Studies, 33(5), 135–138. https://doi.org/10.19954/j.cnki.lcr.2025.05.057

Gao, X., & Wang, H. (2024). Conceptual innovation and practical pathways for cultivating international communication talents in foreign language institutions. Foreign Language Teaching, 45(4), 67–72.

Gao, X. (2025). Empowering college English writing instruction with AI language models. Overseas English, (16), 73–75. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:HWYY.0.2025-16-024

Hu, Z. (2024). ChatGPT on foreign language teaching. Foreign Language in China, 20(3), 1, 12–15.

Huang, F. (2025). Research on empowering English translation teaching with large language models. Contemporary Research in Teaching, 11(8), 104–108. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:DDYC.0.2025-08-026

Huang, Q., & Xie, J. (2023). Investigation and reflection on the cultivation of English majors: A case study of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Language Service Studies, 3, 83–94.

Jia, H., & Wang, X. (2025). An exploration of the current situation of foreign language talent cultivation based on the SPO model. Foreign Language Research, 42(3), 75–83. https://doi.org/10.13978/j.cnki.wyyj.2025.03.017

Li, P. (2025). Research on career planning and employment guidance pathways for college students under the background of industry-education integration. Industrial Innovation Research, (18), 190–192. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:CYCX.0.2025-18-060

Lin, F. (2025). The “remix” turn in foreign language majors: Practices and implications from the UK. Foreign Language Research, 42(5), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.13978/j.cnki.wyyj.2025.05.009

Liu, H., & Li, Q. (2024). Teaching reform for cultivating technical and skilled talents in Guangxi facing ASEAN with global competence. Chinese Journal of Education, (8), 149–157.

Ministry of Education Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council. (2019, July 9). Administrative measures for the authorization and conferral of bachelor's degrees. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A22/yjss_xwgl/moe_818/201907/t20190726_392378.html

Qin, L., & Chen, P. (2023). The concept, purpose, and development strategies of micro-major education in universities. Educational Academic Monthly, (12), 96–103. https://doi.org/10.16477/j.cnki.issn1674-2311.2023.12.002

Shao, S. (2024). Research on the quality and index of business English undergraduate education. Foreign Language in China, 21(2), 83–89.

Shi, L. (2024). Personalized teaching practices of college English courses in the era of big data. Theory and Practice of Education, (12), 62–64.

Sun, Y., Jiang, Y., Yang, F., et al. (2025). Reform and development of foreign language majors in Chinese universities in the new era. Foreign Languages and Literature, 41(4), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.26922/j.cnki.waiguoyuwen.2025.04.012

Wang, Y. (2024). Cultivation and employment of applied foreign language talents in universities under the background of industry-education integration. China Employment, (7), 102–103. https://doi.org/10.16622/j.cnki.11-3709/d.2024.07.05

Wu, Y. (2024). Training strategies for foreign language graduate students in response to China’s internationalization strategy. Foreign Language World, (4), 83–88.

Xie, S., & Han, H. (2023). Strategies for improving the quality of “English + Law” dual-degree programs: A case study of Hebei University. Journal of Hengshui University, 25(1), 87–92.

Xu, S., Lü, R., & Cao, Y. (2025). Analysis of the employment situation and countermeasures of foreign language graduates in Shijiazhuang universities. Journal of Shijiazhuang University, 27(2), 154–158. https://doi.org/10.13573/j.cnki.sjzxyxb.2025.02.014

Yan, J., & Hu, M. (2024). Talent cultivation in journalism and communication micro-majors under the background of New Liberal Arts: A study of 26 micro-major programs. China University Teaching, (6), 11–18, 32.

Ye, H., & Han, H. (2023). Reform and practice of “English + Information Engineering” dual-degree undergraduate programs. Journal of Electrical and Electronic Education, 45(6), 5–9.

Zhao, A., Guo, K., Yu, C., et al. (2023). Reform and practice of “English + Information Engineering” dual-degree undergraduate programs. Journal of Electrical and Electronic Education, 45(6), 5–9.

Zhou, Y. (2025). Innovation in blended English teaching models in Chinese universities empowered by large language models. Overseas English, (14), 163–165. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:HWYY.0.2025-14-050.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v12i11.6325

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2025 Yang Feng, Wenqi Dong

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2015-2026. European Journal of Education Studies (ISSN 2501 - 1111) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All authors who send their manuscripts to this journal and whose articles are published on this journal retain full copyright of their articles. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).