“Follow the law of art talent selection, and ensure a scientific and fair progress”, said Huang Changyong, President of Shanghai Theatre Academy

Publisher:英文主页Time:2020-04-04Views:70

31 March 2020 /Source: People's Daily Online

Recently, in response to the implication of COVID-19 epidemic, the Ministry of Education has set forth requirements for art universities’ private admissions examination that has been postponed, making it clear that the scope of private admissions examination should be reduced as much as possible, and universities are encouraged to take the off-site examination methods such as candidates submitting works and attending online video interviews etc for the preliminary selection of candidates, and to conduct any necessary on-site examination after the national college entrance examination (Gaokao).

In this context, art colleges and universities across the country have made corresponding plans. Huang Changyong, President of Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA), said in an interview that STA will earnestly implement the requirements of the Ministry of Education and fully study and assess the impact of the epidemic on the school's admissions examination, and will carefully consider and formulate the adjusted plan for the admissions examination based on the primary starting point of ensuring the life and health of the candidates and teachers, under the principles of ensuring the scientific, fair and operational nature of the examination, in accordance with the characteristics of different majors and following the law of art talent selection.

Acceptance to majors in theatrical literature, programming and directing categories to be decided by Gaokao scores

As one of the famous universities in China, STA’s private admissions examination always attracts much attention from the society. Given the epidemic situation, the admissions examination for art majors also faces an opportunity for reform, with some majors moving from the traditional mode of admissions examination for art majors to the Gaokao mode. This year, STA will make a trial to cancel the private admissions examination for four majors, including theatrical literature, theatre education, radio and television programming and directing, and film and television photography and production, but to admit registered candidates on merit basis according to their Gaokao scores.

Preliminary examination for a number of acting/performance majors to be adjusted to candidates submitting video-recorded works

Such “front stage” majors as acting/performance, broadcasting and hosting have always been the most competitive majors. This year, STA will conduct the preliminary examination for eight art majors, namely, acting (theatre, film and television), acting (musical theatre), directing for theatre, film and television, broadcasting and hosting, dance performance (Chinese dance), dance performance (ballet), dance performance (international ballroom dance), and choreography and director 8 art majors, by way of candidates submitting video-recorded works, while the callback and final callback will still require the candidates to come to the school for on-site examination.

Huang Changyong said that the change of art major examination mode this year is an inevitable choice for epidemic prevention and control, but it is not only a measure forced by the epidemic, it is also the general trend of the development of China's admissions examination for art majors.

It is reported that STA’s specific examination plan has been submitted to the competent education authorities for review and will be published very soon. STA has formulated the requirements for video-recording and uploading the works, and hopes that candidates will prepare and submit their works carefully according to these requirements. However, this year's callback and final callback may be more stringent on candidates, and may go deeper and more detailed.

A general trend to increase academic requirements for art major admissions

The measures for admissions examination for art majors launched by the Ministry of Education this year in response to the epidemic situation are not only a reform of China’s admissions examination for art majors, but also an exploration of the transformation faced by art education in China. This year, many art colleges and universities will cancel their private admissions examination for some majors and further increase the academic requirements. This is, to some extent, to make up for the shortcomings and weaknesses of art education in our country. At STA, those majors for which the admission will be based on the Gaokao scores all have very high requirements for the candidates' academic competence. The eight majors subject to STA’s private admissions examination look to find a balance between major-specific skills and academic competence, while the overall trend is that the academic requirements will increase year by year.