The Thousand Talents Program is a talent recruitment program established by the Government of China in 2008. The program, which was established in the wake of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, exists to recruit highly skilled university professors and researchers to China. It requires recruits to have full professorships from prestigious institutions or senior roles in notable organization and affords successful applicants with special benefits including titles, high pay and visa privileges.
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Background
China has traditionally had a large number of students go abroad for studies with its higher education system proving unable to match the demand for higher education. The result is that there are large numbers of highly educated overseas Chinese (rencai), the vast majority of which decide to remain abroad after their studies. In building the size and prestige of its own university system, China developed the Thousand Talents program to attract overseas Chinese and top university talent from globally ranked universities. The goal is to create a competitive university system that produces valuable research, supports the innovation economy, and encourages Chinese to stay in China for their studies.
Controversy
Thousand Talent recruits have reported abuses in the program including fraud, misappropriated grant funding, poor accommodations and unscrupulous research ethics. Although many report being satisfied with the program, others are wary of inconsistencies in the program depending the university administration and department.