Chinese Uni Offers Housekeeping As Degree Course

Story By: Lee BullenSub-EditorLee Bullen,  Agency: Asia Wire Report

A Chinese university is offering housekeeping as an undergraduate course.

The undergraduate program in ‘home support services’ is available at Shanghai Open University in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai.

The course, the first course of its kind in the city, was accredited by the Ministry of Education in July and will admit its first group of at least 25 students next year.

CNS / Real Press

Lu Qi, university dean of public policy and management, said the course aims to produce high-quality practitioners in the household service industry.

Lu added: “We will focus on providing well-rounded higher education that would help industry practitioners with their career development.”

Students with high school or college diplomas can apply for the university course.

CNS / Real Press

Lu said that there has been a surge in demand for home help in recent years, especially babysitting and caring for elderly family members.

However, a 2018 study by the university found that 71.3 percent of bosses of over 2,000 homecare service institutes had no higher education, indicating a lack of qualifications in the field.

The university launched a diploma course for household services and management in 2014.

CNS / Real Press

Lu explained: “The diploma program is focused on skills training, the undergraduate course will be more comprehensive, integrating theoretical study with practical learning and covering a wide range of subjects.”

Students in the undergraduate program will cover subjects such as family sociology and family aesthetics, in addition to compulsory courses like English.

Lu said: “For example, students in the diploma programme learn how to tidy rooms, whereas the undergraduate course module on family aesthetics teaches them how to help family members build a harmonious atmosphere.”

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