Racing to the Bottom: How ‘Water Races’ are Drowning the True Purpose of Higher Education

How many tens of dollars does it cost to buy an award certificate? Paying to participate in “water competition” becomes a new way for college students to gain extra points in comprehensive examinations

In order to comprehensively evaluate students’ abilities and performance, many colleges and universities currently use comprehensive quality assessment to score and rank students, and use it as the basis for judging excellence, scholarships, and even postgraduate qualifications. This also makes comprehensive assessment scores play an important role in academic evaluation. The importance is increasingly highlighted. In this context, some institutions have taken this as a business opportunity and held some low-value and loosely organized competitions for a fee. Students who pay fees to participate in such competitions and win prizes can get extra points in the comprehensive test. This type of competition is called “water competition” in the industry, so what kind of industry chain is behind this? Come and see reporters investigate.

“Six water prizes for extra points in the comprehensive test”, “22 water prizes helped me win a scholarship of 18,000 yuan”… Recently, reporters on some social platforms have seen many people sharing their “experiences in winning scholarships and recommending graduate students.” Post”, the “core secret” they shared was to pay to participate in the “water race”. These “water competitions” with low thresholds, vague rules, but high winning rates are usually organized by some institutions or individuals, under the banner of improving the comprehensive quality of college students, but in fact they are for profit. This kind of “water race” has almost become an open secret among college students.

Sophomore student: There are many students around. In order to improve their comprehensive test scores, they will also read recommendations on various platforms, whether it is so-called tutoring, so-called teacher escort, or even direct help sometimes. You compete on behalf of them, and then you have to pay the corresponding fee, and help them get a certificate for some competition, or some certificates of competition.

The reporter also experienced how low the threshold for “water racing” is. On a certain social platform, a reporter asked a blogger how to participate in the “water race”, and the blogger directed the reporter to a website. This website brings together many knowledge competitions, English competitions, design competitions and other projects, many of which are known as “national competitions.” All competitions registered through this website require payment to participate. For example, in a certain intangible cultural and creative competition, the registration fee charged by the website is between 30 and 80 yuan. In addition, this website can also provide application for award certificates. For example, in a mathematical modeling knowledge competition for college students, after winning the competition, you can apply for a certificate for 50 yuan. For 100 yuan, you can apply for a skill level certificate from a university student business association. The proliferation of “water races” not only encourages opportunism, but also causes trouble to many students who participate in competitions through formal channels.

College student: For other students, he can use some awards that are not very valuable and require less time and energy to overshadow their efforts. This is unfair to other students.

“Water Race” reflects the shortcomings of the current comprehensive evaluation system of colleges and universities

The “water race” became an open secret. This reflects the shortcomings of the current comprehensive evaluation system in colleges and universities. So how to rectify it? Come and listen to the experts’ advice.

Experts suggest optimizing evaluation methods and strengthening process evaluation

Experts said that, on the one hand, the current scoring standards for comprehensive examinations in colleges and universities are relatively single, relying too much on rigid indicators such as competition awards and neglecting the examination of students’ actual abilities and comprehensive qualities. On the other hand, the review and supervision mechanism of competitions in colleges and universities is also incomplete, allowing some low-quality or even fake competitions to be mixed into the comprehensive test bonus system.

Fu Wangqian, associate professor of the Department of Education, Beijing Normal University: The first one may be to optimize the comprehensive quality evaluation method, and the second one is to strengthen the regulation and supervision of bonus points for such competitions. For example, which are authoritative competitions, they can be placed in our plus In the white list, which competitions should not be included; the third aspect is to strengthen the process evaluation of students.

Colleges and universities should strengthen the review and supervision of all aspects

Professor Wang Chao, who has been engaged in talent evaluation in colleges and universities for a long time, suggested that the judges’ assessment link be added to the comprehensive student assessment and award evaluation process, and the authenticity and value of the student’s competition awards and the corresponding contributions made by the student can be effectively screened through questioning.

Wang Chao, part-time professor at Southeast University Suzhou Campus: The judges can ask more practical questions, such as what award the student won. Then you can ask him what work you did in this award. If it is a teamwork, it is also OK ( Q), what role do you play in it?

Some experts also believe that management departments should consider recording students and instructors who have committed serious academic misconduct during competition activities. But in the final analysis, college students themselves must establish correct values, refuse to participate in “water races”, and invest time and energy in activities that can actually improve their own abilities.

Fu Wangqian, associate professor of the Department of Education, Beijing Normal University: In fact, we hope to cultivate internationally competitive people, rather than (just) saying that you have such a certificate, we also emphasize that students can (help) career and professional development by participating in activities. , some longer-term effects.

News Watch: The proliferation of “water races” deviates from the original intention of higher education

Why do these “water races” with low thresholds and vague rules appear? What problems are reflected and what impacts will they bring?

The proliferation of “water races” deviates from the original intention of higher education

Judging from news reports, this type of “water racing” with low gold content and for the purpose of seeking profits is not uncommon. I think the reason why “water competition” exists is because the comprehensive evaluation system of colleges and universities relies too much on hard indicators such as competition and awards. The current phenomenon of “water race” has made the evaluation system unstandardized and unreasonable, and cannot fully and accurately reflect the comprehensive quality of students. In fact, it is a good thing to encourage college students to participate in more subject competitions in their spare time. However, if excessive requirements are imposed on this indicator and there is a lack of strict review of the qualifications of competition organizations, it will inevitably fall into formalism. On the other hand, it can easily lead to the spread of unhealthy tendencies in colleges and universities and encourage some students to be eager for quick success. This not only deviates from the original intention of promoting learning and selecting talents, but also runs counter to the principles of fairness and justice pursued by higher education.

How to eliminate chaos and return education to its essence?

Stop education from turning into a “business” and return to the essence of “educating people”

How to squeeze out the water from “Water Race”? First of all, the education department must do a good job in the top-level design of the evaluation system and introduce more diverse evaluation methods. In addition, it must conduct strict review of subject competitions. The management department should issue detailed rules for competition management, strengthen law enforcement, and severely punish violations of laws and regulations. A “black and white list” can also be published regularly to let students and parents know at a glance which competitions are legal and standardized and which ones are banned “water competitions”. In fact, the “water race” phenomenon has also reminded us all that the essence of education is “educating people” and we should stay away from formalism and prevent education from becoming a “business”. Of course, this requires joint efforts from all parties to maintain a good academic atmosphere and build a fresh campus environment so that students can study with peace of mind and down to earth.