Deluxe training camps provoke controversies

Library of Peking University [File photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

China's prestigious Peking University (PKU) suddenly found itself in the middle of a controversy after its deluxe EMBA program's admission fee of 668 thousand yuan (US$108,000) was made known by the press.

Published by Xinhua News Agency on July 15, the report said, "Half of the attendants in the program were from government agencies," and that similar high-end training camps exist at PKU, such as the President Class Program for Government Officials.

The high financial threshold has cast a mysterious cloud over enrollees because it signifies that such courses are not designed for the average person.

As said in PKU's enrollment advertisements, students in these non-degree programs are "charismatic business leaders, political elites and financiers" who usually follow courses in general knowledge, real estate, or financial investment and are subjected to an admission fee between 38,000 and 98,000 yuan (US$6,000-$16,000).

The public's concern is mostly centered on who the actual participants of the classes are, why they sign up for such expensive courses and where their funds come from. Especially concerned are those on government payrolls.

One staff member working at PKU's School of Continuous Education, who wished to stay anonymous, explained that one key incentive is building up personal connections.

"Many students here, including company presidents and business owners, hop from one class to another in sequence just to meet people like them so that they can perfect their social connections," this person said.