During the National Two Sessions, Liao Xiangzhong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Party Committee Secretary of the Communication University of China, announced that the university eliminated 16 undergraduate majors and specializations last year, including translation and photography. Secretary Liao stated that due to the advent of an era of "human-machine division of labor," educational reform is urgently needed, and classroom teaching must undergo a fundamental restructuring. He emphasized the need to change the format, content, and mindset of teaching, focusing on identifying the core knowledge points, challenging aspects, and future relevance of each course. The approach involves solving key problems while leaving the rest to AI, allowing students to focus on learning.

It was noted that as early as May 2025, during a university conference on "Professional Development Series Work Promotion," Secretary Liao mentioned that 16 majors across the university were subject to suspension, merger, or transformation, with six others being planned for redesign. All existing programs were slated for upgrades. He expressed the goal of using the power of media to safeguard human values in the AI era and to cultivate students' professional ideals and ability to master AI.

Reportedly, the majors cut by the Communication University of China are mostly traditional ones, including translation, photography, visual communication design, and arts management, and even a nationally top-ranked comic art program. Such drastic adjustments to the academic program have instantly sparked widespread discussion. Some exclaimed, "Are these majors being phased out by AI?" while others expressed concern, stating, "Unfortunately, my major has become obsolete, outdated upon graduation."

Media analysis reveals that in recent years, many universities have undertaken large-scale cuts to their academic programs. Shortly before this, Jilin University updated its undergraduate program offerings, announcing the suspension of enrollment for 19 majors, six of which were in the arts. In April of last year, Nanchang University issued a notice proposing the removal of eight majors, including drama, film, and television literature, radio and television directing, and animation. Additionally, Beijing Language and Culture University ceased enrollment for seven translation-related master's programs in 2025, covering languages such as Russian, Japanese, German, Korean, and Spanish.

Commentary suggests that the reasons for eliminating majors may vary but ultimately stem from shifts in societal needs—impact from new technologies, signals from the job market, and changes in industrial structure. The rapid adjustments made by universities reflect broader societal transformations; we live in a fast-changing era where universities, like individuals, are striving to adapt. The commentary also warns against a tendency towards instrumentalization in educational reform, where higher education is reduced to mere skills training focused primarily on mastering specific AI tools. Given the rapid iteration of AI, applications popular at enrollment might become obsolete by graduation.

Another perspective argues that foundational disciplines like foreign languages and photography still impart knowledge and skills needed by society. However, the approach to learning them must evolve beyond simple, singular methods. These subjects should serve as a base, integrating with more specialized and creative content involving AI, business, and communication to achieve a composite upgrade in capabilities.

Standing at a turning point in the era, facing the unpredictable new tool of AI, universities, students, parents, and society as a whole are confronted with new challenges: how to keep pace with the times and adjust academic programs scientifically and rationally; how to foster disciplinary thinking and comprehensive abilities to enhance collaboration with AI. This situation serves as a reminder that while employment prospects are a consideration when choosing a major, one should avoid being overly utilitarian or solely focused on current "hot" fields. More importantly, individuals should introspect, find genuine passion, and pursue what they love, as this provides the motivation for continuous exploration, learning, and unlocking potential.