Finding a job has become increasingly difficult for university graduates in recent years as millions more graduate every year. From the second half of last year, the situation has further deteriorated as the global financial crisis slashes job vacancies.

According to official figures, China has 6.11 million college students due to graduate this year, while another million from last year are still looking for jobs after they failed to get one in 2008.

The grim situation is a major concern for many people attending the ongoing annual NPC and CPPCC sessions, and many of them wish to offer their opinions on the issue.

Develop college graduates' ability to start their own businesses

The government has stepped up support for graduates starting up their own businesses, ranging from exemption or reduction of taxes and administration fees to better access to bank loans.

However, Zhang Chengfen, a CPPCC member and vice president of Jinan University, said most college students lack the enterprise and spirit to start their own businesses. Zhang blamed this on China's traditional exam-oriented education, which assesses a student's performance mainly based on their academic scores.

"Students are told all the time by parents and teachers that they shouldn’t waste their time on anything else but to study hard in order to enter a good university which will ensure them a good life in the future with a decent job and income," said Zhang. "As a result, students may achieve good scores in school exams but they don’t have the ability to fend for themselves in hard times."

To tackle the problem at its root, the traditional exam-oriented education must be changed to put more focus on students' problem-solving abilities, Zhang said. "In this way, college students will have the ability to start up their own businesses after they graduate."

College graduates serving rural development

"College graduates should change their way of thinking regarding employment. They can realize their value wherever they are needed," Liu Yiming, a CCPCC member, told china.org.cn. "Now there are some college graduates working as village officials. I think this is a good option for these graduates and nothing to be ashamed of," Liu said.

China's vast rural areas are in dire need of technology and modern management techniques, and college graduates will do a good job in these areas, Liu believes.

SMEs tapping in on college graduates

In the face of the current problems, the government is also facilitating employment of college graduates in smaller businesses, with simplified administration procedures for personal file management and social security coverage, suspension of residence restrictions, and subsidies for employers.

"This is a good opportunity for private enterprises and SMEs, as college graduates can help these enterprises optimize their structure and achieve better development," said Tian Gang, a CPPCC member and renowned mathematician. "And a growth in the numbers and quality of smaller businesses will be good for the country’s economy as a whole in the long-term."

(China.org.cn March 8, 2009)