Latest news with #SoutheastUniversity
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chinese university demands PhD for canteen manager role. Netizens ask: 'Since when does a cafeteria need a doctorate?'
A Job Post That Left the Internet in Disbelief Salary Offers Stability, Not Sensibility You Might Also Like: How a PhD dropout became the Indian Forest Service topper: Kanika Anabh's journey of grit and persistence University Responds, But Questions Remain Broader Concerns About Employment Discrimination You Might Also Like: PhD student rejects a career-defining opportunity at NASA. The reason will shock you Golden Rice Bowl or Just Stirring the Pot? A prestigious university in eastern China has come under fire after advertising a canteen manager job requiring a PhD, fluency in English, and even Communist Party membership. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Southeast University in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, published the controversial recruitment notice on its official website on May University, one of China's elite institutions is known for academic excellence. However, its latest job post appears to have blurred the lines between scholarly achievement and routine administration, sparking widespread debate across Chinese social position, officially titled office manager for the university's canteen operations, includes responsibilities such as overseeing food preparation, managing canteen contractors, supervising hygiene and safety, and handling routine paperwork. While those duties are fairly standard, what shocked many was the academic threshold: a doctoral SCMP reported that candidates are also expected to be proficient in English and office software. Additional weightage would be given to applicants with majors in food, nutrition, or culinary arts, relevant work experience, and those with cooking certificates. Membership in the Chinese Communist Party was listed as a annual salary attached to the position stands at 180,000 yuan (approximately ₹20.8 lakh or USD 25,000). While this is significantly higher than the national average income—urban employees in non-private sectors earned 124,110 yuan on average in 2023—it has done little to justify the high academic SCMP noted that many online users were baffled by the listing. 'Since when does a canteen need a PhD to operate?' one user asked, while another cited 'neijuan', a term describing the intense and often irrational competition for limited resources and opportunities in Chinese response to the backlash, a staff member from Southeast University clarified to local outlet Shangyou News, as reported by the SCMP, that candidates would not be expected to cook themselves. The high qualification bar was intended to attract those with formal training or research backgrounds in food sciences or related this clarification has not stemmed public criticism. Some online commentators speculated that the post might be 'custom-built' for a specific candidate, noting the improbability of someone holding both a PhD and a culinary canteen job posting has reignited debates around educational discrimination in hiring. While Chinese laws protect against employment bias based on ethnicity, religion, and gender, academic qualifications are not covered. Given China's rising youth unemployment—15.8% for those aged 16 to 24, excluding students—the job market is increasingly under scrutiny. Netizens argue that job postings like this one reflect systemic issues that push young people toward overqualification without meaningful managerial role at Southeast University is seen by many as a 'golden rice bowl'—a term used to describe secure, high-status jobs in the public sector. With such positions becoming more desirable amid economic uncertainty, competition has intensified, and so have the standards, often at the cost of fairness and the university revises its listing or not, the debate it has triggered around educational inflation and employment policy is likely to simmer for some time. As one social media user aptly commented:'When a canteen needs a PhD, perhaps it's the hiring system—not the kitchen—that needs a rethink.'
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Chinese University's Job Ad Requiring PhD For Canteen Manager Role Sparks Debate
A university in China has sparked controversy after posting a job advertisement for a canteen manager that requires a doctoral degree. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the listing was posted on the official website of Southeast University in Nanjing. The institution is part of government-backed initiatives and is one of only 39 universities on the mainland considered a gateway to better job prospects or further study opportunities. The university triggered a heated online debate after the advertisement went viral. As per SCMP, the position is for an office manager overseeing the university's canteens. Responsibilities include supervising the development and preparation of dishes, managing canteen contractors, ensuring food safety, and handling administrative paperwork. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in English and office software. Preference will be given to candidates with relevant work experience and Communist Party membership. The expected annual salary for the position is 180,000 yuan (approximately $25,000), according to the listing. It was the requirement of a PhD that drew intense criticism online, with many questioning whether such a high level of education is necessary for the role. "Since when does a canteen need a PhD to operate?" one social media user asked. Some users also speculated that the position may be designed for a specific individual. "It seems too coincidental that a PhD graduate also holds a cooking certificate. It looks like the post is tailored for someone with connections," one person commented. Following the backlash, a university staff member clarified that candidates are not required to be cooks, but preference would be given to those with academic backgrounds in food, nutrition, and culinary arts, as well as those with cooking certifications. Notably, SCMP reported that competition for the position is expected to be fierce, as such a role at a prestigious university is viewed as a "golden rice bowl"-a stable job with excellent benefits.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Chinese university canteen recruits manager who must have PhD, sparks heated debate
A university in eastern China recruiting a canteen manager has sparked controversy online by requiring job candidates to hold a doctoral degree. Southeast University in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, posted a recruitment advertisement on its official website on May 22. As a top institution in China affiliated with the government's '985' and '211' projects, Southeast University is among only 39 mainland universities, including the prestigious Tsinghua and Peking universities, considered an entry ticket to better job or further study opportunities. In the advertisement for the position of office manager for the university's canteens, candidates are required to have a doctoral degree. Duties for this role include overseeing the development and preparation of dishes, managing canteen contractors, supervising food safety, and handling administrative paperwork. Key responsibilities for this position include overseeing the development and preparation of dishes, managing canteen contractors, supervising food safety, and handling administrative paperwork. Photo: Shutterstock Additionally, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in English and office software, with preference given to those with relevant work experience and Communist Party membership.
