Zachary Bleemer, Assistant Professor of Economics, traveled to China in October 2024 and presented his research on American higher education at a number of events hosted by various Chinese institutions. 

He participated in the three-day G20 Education Dialogue in Beijing at the Foreign Studies University. This event convened members of the G20 countries to discuss how technology will contribute to high-quality education in the digital era. Zach presented “Computer Science Education in the United States.”

As part of the “China Higher Education International Week,” Zach participated in the International Forum of Higher Education that focused on the theme of technological innovation and sustainable development. His talk was titled, “Who Merits an Elite College Education.”

He also gave two seminars at Beijing University. His seminars explored changes over the past hundred years in the relative value of college-going for lower-income students and the topic of standardized test scores and college admissions. “Higher education is perceived as even higher-stakes in China than in the US,” he comments. ”But we know surprisingly little about whether Chinese universities generate – or can generate – economic mobility for students.”

Zach concluded his visit by presenting “Changes in the College Mobility Pipeline” as a seminar in the Department of Economics of Tsinghua University. “This year, zero students enrolled at Tsinghua University – the country’s top STEM-oriented university – in civil engineering. All qualified students are studying fields more closely related to electrical engineering and computer science.”