With the low-altitude economy, artificial intelligence and new energy sectors rapidly developing, provinces across China are reshaping their higher education systems to better align with national strategies and regional industrial needs.

Henan and Hunan provinces are among those leading this transformation with systematic reforms in higher education academic program establishment and adjustment. The two provinces are strengthening the capacity of their higher education systems to respond to economic transformation, cultivating talent capable of supporting innovation and regional growth.

In Henan, universities are accelerating the creation of programs in strategic and emerging fields, China Education Daily reported.

Anyang Institute of Technology in Henan has introduced six new majors related to aviation and low-altitude economy, including smart transportation, forming a specialized talent-training cluster, according to Li Zhengbin, director of the academic affairs office at the university.

This effort is part of a broader mechanism within Henan to align disciplines with technological trends, national strategies and key regional industries. By 2027, the province plans to establish more than 200 new interdisciplinary programs that support strategic emerging industries and future technologies. These will account for over 80 percent of all new undergraduate programs introduced annually.

To improve the alignment between academic offerings and societal needs, the Henan Provincial Department of Education, in collaboration with industry associations and human resources agencies, has developed a catalog that identifies programs in high demand — such as integrated circuits, AI, biomedicine, quantum technology, new energy, new materials, and the low-altitude economy — as well as those that should be controlled or restricted.

Several universities have already put these policies into practice. Zhengzhou University in Henan has launched a program in intelligent construction and smart transportation, supporting the national transportation strategy. Henan University has introduced new energy science and engineering in response to the nation's dual carbon goals — peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060.

Henan is also implementing differentiated strategies for different types of programs: foundational disciplines are encouraged to develop distinctive features; emerging and interdisciplinary fields are supported to explore cutting-edge directions; urgently needed specialties are fast-tracked; and rare or unique disciplines receive protection and support, according to Yan Zhiguo, a director at Henan Provincial Department of Education.

Similarly, Hunan province is making significant strides in restructuring its higher education landscape. It has issued the discipline catalog urgently needed by industries for 2025-26, which identifies 16 key industrial fields — including digital industry, AI and quantum technology — and specifies 70 sub-disciplines and 183 undergraduate programs in high demand. The catalog will be updated every two years.

Hunan is also implementing an early warning and exit mechanism for academic programs. This year, the province plans to suspend or withdraw 349 undergraduate programs and 157 vocational programs, while adding 86 new undergraduate and 347 vocational programs.

To deepen integration between industry and education, Hunan is establishing 10 provincial future technology colleges, 100 modern industry colleges and 30 engineer training bases.