A new breed of degree programs will be launched next month to help college graduates gain an extra set of skills, as well as a second bachelor's degree, over a period of one to two years. The Ministry of Education claims this new option can better prepare students for the competitive job market, but some consider it a mere ploy to reduce unemployment figures.

Although it's already past June, some college graduates still want to stay in school, where they can prepare for grad school admissions and study for a second expertise.

Ministry of Education officially announces the "4+X" program, which grants students a second college degree if they can complete 48 credits in one or two years of learning period.

Schools will still need to organize the entrance exams and the tuition is based on that of a 4-year college.

Classes are to start at the end of September at the soonest.

With an emphasis on industry and academic collaboration, the Ministry of Education encourages schools to hire teachers from industries to provide practical experiences for students to learn their second expertise. But it has already raised doubts whether the government simply wishes to lower the unemployment rate by delaying college graduates' entry to the job market.

As planned, each class can accommodate no more than 60 students and focuses on enhancing students' capabilities in the job market and obtaining professional licenses.

According to the Ministry of Education, many private institutes of technology have proposed recruitment plans and the participation of any public universities is not known until the deadline of July 26th. Schools that pass the review are expected to begin recruitment process in August.

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