Seeking talent in civil affairs

Students choosing funeral, marriage majors as demands for services rise

China is making efforts to produce more talent to work in civil affairs industries — including elderly nursing, rehabilitation, and marriage and funeral services — by optimizing the nation's education system, with an aim to diversify young people's career choices and improve people's livelihood.

Nineteen-year-old Chen Xuetong, a freshman majoring in funeral services at China Civil Affairs University, said though she sometimes feels "blue" and has psychological fears, she remains determined to find work in her chosen field in the future.

Founded in 1959, CCAU transformed from a junior college to a full fledged university last year. Since then, it has established the nation's first undergraduate major focusing on funeral services and marriage planning and services, while retaining some junior college study programs.