Five graduate students from Jishou University transferred to Hunan University. The Paper reporter Li Yunfang
Instead of passing the exam, 17 2013 graduate students entered Hunan University, one of the best universities in Hunan, from six universities.
According to the latest ranking of "China Alumni Association Network", Hunan University ranks 34th, and all the six universities rank outside the top 100. The last of the six universities is Jishou University, which ranks 309th, but this university also has the largest number of 2013 graduate students transferred to Hunan University, with 5 students.
She Zuochen, director of the Graduate Department of Jishou University, said that the state stipulates that if there are special difficulties, you can transfer to another school, and the special situation of five students must be considered, "people-oriented".
The school of Hunan University also explained that the transfer procedures of 17 graduate students were compliant and there were no problems.
However, the transfer from ordinary universities to local famous schools and 17 graduate students at once, and the details of the transfer were not announced, which still caused controversy.
According to the data provided by the Hunan Provincial Department of Education, there are only 122 graduate students transferred from all universities in Hunan Province in the past decade.
Hunan University also realized that it was inappropriate, and made a new regulation after accepting 17 graduate students to transfer to another school, and will no longer accept the transfer applications of non-"985" university graduate students in the future.
Enter a prestigious school through transfer.
A netizen broke the news on the Internet that in 2014, Hunan University accepted 17 2013 graduate students from Jishou University, Hunan Agricultural University and other schools for transfer.
He said that these students did not go to the retest line of Hunan University in 2013, first entered non-key universities with low scores, then entered Hunan University in the name of further study, and then transferred their student status to Hunan University six months later to complete the whole process of phoenix nirvana.
The above-mentioned netizens questioned whether this situation is in line with state regulations and whether it is fair, and called on the Commission for Discipline Inspection to intervene.
The survey in The Paper confirmed that 17 graduate students did transfer from six universities in Hunan to Hunan University in early 2014. Among the 17 people, at least half of the students paid tuition fees to "study" at Hunan University before transferring to another school, and obtained credits. Its path is quite close to the description of netizens.
The Paper also found that among the 17 graduate students, some were admitted to the original university, but they did not study there.
For example, Yang, a graduate student in 2013, transferred from the business administration major of Central South University of Forestry and Technology to the business administration major of Hunan University. However, a 2013 graduate student majoring in business administration at Central South University of Forestry and Technology said that Yang’s name was on the roster at the time of reporting, but he had never seen Yang in his class.
The Paper contacted some graduate students who transferred to Hunan University, but they all refused the interview on the grounds of personal information and privacy.
The school of Hunan University responded that the transfer of 17 graduate students was carried out in accordance with national regulations and school procedures, and there was no problem.
As for the problem that some graduate students "pursue advanced studies" in Hunan University before transferring to another school, the school of Hunan University said that this is a case of mutual recognition of credits, that is, in order to share high-quality educational resources, each school allows students to take courses in the other school, and the school agrees with these credits.
Regardless of whether the procedures are in compliance, these 17 students did achieve a big leap in the school level through transfer.
According to the ranking of Chinese universities in 2015 selected by "China Alumni Association Network", the six universities where 17 graduate students were originally located were ranked outside the top 100, and Jishou University ranked 309th, far worse than Hunan University ranked 34th.
As far as the scores of postgraduate entrance examination are concerned, in 2013, the scores of literature postgraduates independently designated by Hunan University were 370, while the scores of literature postgraduates in six universities were unified "national line", with 350 for A-type candidates and 340 for B-type candidates (A and B are divided according to regions). The scores of literature postgraduate entrance examination in these six schools are 30-40 points different from those in Hunan University.
A graduate student in a famous university told The Paper that there are two specialized courses in the postgraduate examination independently proposed by universities, and the specialized courses in Hunan University are definitely much more difficult than those in six universities, so the actual gap is even greater than the difference in scores.
In addition, some graduate students were able to return to Changsha, the provincial capital, from Xiangtan and Jishou through transfer.
A winding path outside the exam
Every year, millions of students sprint for the postgraduate entrance examination, and eventually more than half a million students will be admitted to the corresponding schools according to their respective achievements.
However, after the unified postgraduate examination and admission are settled, there is still a winding path for the admitted graduate students to choose another school-transfer.
The winding path outside this exam is a "hole" left by the "Regulations on the Management of Students in Ordinary Colleges and Universities" issued by Order No.21 of the Ministry of Education.
In 2005, the Ministry of Education promulgated and implemented the "Regulations on the Management of Students in Colleges and Universities", which clearly stated that students should generally complete their studies in the admitted schools. If you are sick or have special difficulties and can’t continue studying in our school, you can apply for transfer.
However, there are four situations that clearly prohibit transfer: those who have been enrolled for less than one semester; When enrolling students, it is determined to be oriented and entrusted training; Should drop out of school; Other without justifiable reasons.
The "Regulations on the Management of Students in Ordinary Colleges and Universities" also clarifies the procedures for students to transfer to other schools: with the consent of the two schools, the transfer school can report to the local provincial education administrative department to confirm that the transfer reason is justified and can go through the transfer procedures; Inter-provincial transfer scholars shall be transferred from the provincial education administrative department of the transfer place to the provincial education administrative department of the transfer place, and go through the transfer procedures after confirming the transfer conditions.
In 2006, the Hunan Provincial Department of Education issued the Notice on Issues Related to Postgraduates’ Transfer, which added two more cases besides the cases in which the Regulations on the Management of Students in Ordinary Colleges and Universities clearly stated that transfer was not allowed: the graduate students were directly transferred to doctoral students; Does not meet the relevant provisions on graduate transfer from school to school.
Colleges and universities have also formulated their own "Measures for the Management of Postgraduate Student Status", which has made corresponding provisions on transfer.
For example, the Measures for the Management of Postgraduates’ Student Status in Hunan University basically follows the regulations of the Ministry of Education on transfer, but adds a new rule that no transfer is allowed "those who have been enrolled for more than one year".
The Measures for the Administration of Postgraduates’ Student Status in Hunan University also refines the examination and approval procedures for transfer. For example, it is stipulated that graduate students should submit a written application, and only after the tutor agrees to receive and transfer to the college (department) and the examination agrees, can they go through the registration formalities after being examined by the graduate school and approved by the principal in charge, and reported to the provincial education administrative department for approval.
Tang Zhenming, director of the Propaganda Department of Hunan University Party Committee and spokesperson, explained that after receiving the application, the graduate school will conduct the preliminary examination first, first of all, it must rule out several situations that the Ministry of Education stipulates that it is not allowed to transfer, and then "attend the meeting" after the preliminary examination.
"Attending the meeting" refers to taking the transfer application to the meeting of Hunan University Admissions Leading Group for discussion and voting. The enrollment leading groups are all school leaders, including the president, the vice president in charge of graduate students, the secretary of the school discipline inspection commission and the head of the graduate school.
Regarding the "cut" left by the Ministry of Education, a number of university graduate students told The Paper that some people have special circumstances and must be considered.
Regarding the unfairness caused by the transfer of scholars from ordinary universities to key schools, Vice President Liu of the Graduate School of Central South University of Forestry and Technology said that the transfer needs strict examination, so it will not cause large-scale unfairness.
Many university officials also emphasized to The Paper that the transfer of graduate students is only a small probability event, and very few graduate students transfer every year.
Even Hunan University, a "big family" of graduate students in Hunan Province, usually transfers in single digits every year, only in 2014, it soared to 17.
Special difficulties or discretionary factors?
The Ministry of Education’s Regulations on the Management of Students in Colleges and Universities clearly stipulates that students with "special difficulties" can apply for transfer, but it does not specify what "special difficulties" there are.
Colleges and universities also follow the concept of "special difficulties" of the Ministry of Education when formulating the regulations on student status management, and have not refined it.
Therefore, in practice, the "special difficulties" put forward by graduate students applying for transfer can be described in various ways.
She Zuochen, director of the Graduate Department of Jishou University, did not agree with The Paper to consult the application form of graduate students transferred from this school, saying that the materials had been filed and the administrator had taken a holiday.
He orally introduced the reasons why Liu and Luo, 2013 graduate students who transferred from this school to Hunan University, transferred to other schools.
Before Liu was admitted to Jishou University as a graduate student, she had studied in Hunan University for two years with master’s degree equivalent, so the school agreed to transfer her. "We consider for the students, after all, Hunan University is higher than our platform"; Luo is because his father who works in Changsha is in poor health and needs to be taken care of.
She Zuochen said that many transfer graduate students are the only children of single-parent families, and single parents are still sick. "Don’t think about it."
Yang and Xu, graduate students in 2013, transferred from Hunan University of Science and Technology to Hunan University.
Yao Jingcheng, deputy dean of the Graduate School of Hunan University of Science and Technology, said that Yang, who was admitted to the fine arts school, was allergic to oil painting, and the school did not have a design major, so she agreed to transfer to the design art school of Hunan University.
Since I’m allergic to oil painting, why did I apply for a postgraduate degree in fine arts at Hunan University of Science and Technology? The Paper contacted Yang through Weibo’s private letter, but the other party didn’t reply after asking about transfer and oil painting allergy.
The Paper found that Yang majored in online media art design at Hunan University.
As for Xu, Yao Jingcheng said that his application for transfer was due to financial difficulties, but did not specify what kind of financial difficulties it was. He only emphasized that Changsha, the provincial capital, had good economic conditions and many opportunities.
Three 2013 graduate students from Central South University of Forestry and Technology transferred to Hunan University. The graduate school of this school also rejected The Paper’s request to view the application form for graduate transfer, saying that only specialized departments can view students’ archives.
A teacher at the Graduate School of Central South University of Forestry and Technology said that most of the reasons for students’ transfer were because students found that their interests were inconsistent with the training priorities of the school after entering the school. "If you can’t learn, you will either drop out of school or transfer."
Tang Zhenming, a spokesman for Hunan University, also pointed out that students have a strong interest in a certain subject of Hunan University, and Hunan University will accept their application for transfer if they find that the other party has potential. He said that graduate students emphasize professional ability more than undergraduates.
Another situation is that students are not used to transferring the soil, water, diet and so on from the school.
Wang, a 2013 graduate student who transferred from Jishou University to Hunan University, told The Paper that the reason for the transfer was physical reasons, and he didn’t adapt to the mountainous climate in Jishou.
The name of Tang Zhen was once transferred from Hunan University to a Hebei graduate student because he couldn’t get used to the spicy Hunan food.
In practice, some universities will also consider the children of their own schools for transfer.
In short, the "special difficulties" stipulated by the Ministry of Education have evolved into various reasons in practice. Dean Liu of Central South University of Forestry and Technology summarized that any special circumstances can be applied, and then the school will review the reasons for the application.
In a sense, the "special difficulties" stipulated by the Ministry of Education have evolved into various discretionary factors in practice.
The opaque transfer process
Postgraduates who apply for transfer generally have to go through three levels, transfer out of school, transfer to school and the degree office of the provincial education department. If they transfer from other provinces, they have to go through the examination of the education departments of other provinces.
The internal audit process of the school is also very complicated, which generally requires the signature and consent of the tutor, the college, the graduate school and the leader of the competent school. For example, Hunan University also needs an enrollment leading group composed of many famous school leaders to hold a meeting to discuss and vote.
After the transfer and transfer to the school are agreed, they will be reported to the Academic Degree Office of the Provincial Department of Education. A staff member of the degree office said that the office is mainly responsible for confirmation and filing. Mainly confirm three contents: whether the universities on both sides agree, whether they are officially admitted students, and whether they are prohibited from transferring to other schools according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education.
However, there is no provision for publicity in the complicated and well-designed transfer review procedure.
The Paper searched the official website of Hunan University, but found no information related to transfer, and the transfer situation of 17 2013 graduate students was completely unknown.
Not only in Hunan University, but also in official website, six universities where 17 graduate students transferred, there is no information about these students’ transfer.
The Paper asked many graduate students from Changsha University of Science and Technology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, and Jishou University, all of whom said that they had never seen the transfer students notified or publicized by the school.
Several graduate students from Jishou University told The Paper that either the number of students was reduced during the class reunion, or they didn’t show up for a long time, and then they found out that some students had transferred to another school after asking each other.
In fact, it seems to be a common unspoken rule for all localities to keep the transfer information of graduate students in colleges and universities secret. Searching the keyword "graduate+transfer" casually on the Internet can’t find any public information about transfer students.
A staff member of the Academic Degree Office of Hunan Provincial Department of Education said that Decree No.21 of the Ministry of Education did not stipulate publicity.
A person from a university explained that because schools are not willing to transfer their graduate students, they will not promote it.
However, this kind of internal audit, which is not open to the public, is easy to make people guess. When it comes to transfer, the biggest magic weapon that many people think of is relationship.
A graduate student of Changsha University of Science and Technology told The Paper that transfer is "all done behind closed doors, not open and fair" and "mainly depends on your relationship".
Although Hunan University claimed that the transfer procedures of 17 graduate students were in compliance after self-examination, the number of transfer students in this session almost doubled than before, and it was not publicized, which eventually triggered online questioning.
In January 2014, the Admissions Leading Group of Hunan University held a meeting and decided to accept 17 2013 graduate students to transfer to Hunan University. "The meeting was very heated." In the same month, the group made a new regulation that it would no longer accept the transfer application of master students from non-"985" universities.
Tang Zhenming, director of the Propaganda Department of Hunan University Party Committee and spokesperson, said that this is because the school leaders want to ensure the quality of graduate students’ "import".
However, when accepting 17 graduate students from non-"985" universities, after a heated discussion, I immediately made a decision not to accept graduate students from non-"985" universities in the future, and the behind-the-scenes motivation made people think more.
Even the official of Hunan University does not deny that this decision has the consideration of excluding people from greeting and taking relationships. "I am too lazy to pay attention to you, just set a threshold of’ 985′."
As a result of the establishment of the threshold, none of the 2014 graduate students entered Hunan University through transfer.
