China’s current barriers were placed for three reasons, according to Gao Xiang, spokesman of the administration. (Photo : Getty Images)
To attract top foreign talent to work at Chinese research institutions, colleges and universities, the government is mulling the removal of several career barriers, a move that will create more opportunities for highly qualified foreigners, according to a report by China Daily.
"We will encourage establishing a recruitment mechanism within research institutions, colleges and universities that will take job applications from around the world," said Zhang Jiang Guo, director of the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs.
Zhang believes that this easing of regulations will increase China's attractiveness among global talent in the next five years.
"We will also draft a regulation to guide foreign experts to participate in national science and technology programs, as well as being leaders of important research projects."
Zhang added, "We will also encourage foreign experts to participate in the selection of China's science and technology awards equally with their Chinese colleagues."
China's current barriers were placed for three reasons, according to Gao Xiang, spokesman of the administration. These reasons are lack of transparency in current policies, limitations created by bureaucracy, and the Chinese language barrier.
"In the past, some jobs in China could only be taken by Chinese employees within their own system. Some research projects were not open for applications from foreign talents," said Gao. "There have been some changes in certain research institutes for universities, yet it is not a formalized government policy--not to mention that many foreign talents have little understanding of the changes."
Furthermore, the Chinese language barrier proves to be a tough obstacle to overcome among foreign talent.
"In China, even if some foreign talents can apply for research project funds, they must submit papers in China. This is a disadvantage for them," said Gao.
Ralf Altmeyer, a German virologist working at the Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology at Shandong University, suggested that an English version of application forms must be made available.
