The application of a Stanford University PhD graduate for a rural civil service position in Anhui Province has ignited a heated debate on Chinese social media. The official website of Suzhou City in East China's Anhui Province recently disclosed a list of potential recruits for the 2024 civil service, including a candidate named Su, who stands out with a doctoral degree.
The list of Lingbi County's second group of civil servants to be potentially recruited for 2024. Photo: the official website of Suzhou City in Anhui Province
Out of 434 potential recruits, Su is the sole individual with a PhD, applying for a grassroots management role in Lingbi County under Suzhou city's jurisdiction. This role involves comprehensive management tasks at the grassroots level, including public services, social etiquette, civility, and rural revitalization efforts.
Local government staff in Lingbi County noted that this is the first time a candidate from a prestigious university has applied for such an entry-level civil service position. Media sources suggest that Su's application may be influenced by a strong connection to the area.
Identified as Su Zhen, the candidate is a graduate of Anhui Xiaoxian Experimental Senior High School and later attended the University of Science and Technology of China, where they received the 35th Guo Moruo Scholarship. Su then pursued their PhD at Stanford University.
The story has attracted significant attention, with the topic reaching 150 million views on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, where it remained at the top of the trending list for over six hours.
While many netizens expressed support for the candidate's decision, highlighting the potential benefits of having a highly educated individual in a public service role, others humorously noted the appeal of civil service jobs, known for their stability and benefits. However, some opinions indicated concern over the perceived devaluation of academic qualifications, with the argument that practical experience is more telling of one's work ability than academic achievements.
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