39-year-old Ding Yuanzhao, who holds master’s degrees from Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Oxford University, as well as a PhD, started working as a delivery driver last year after failing to secure a contract renewal at a Singaporean university. Ding’s situation has sparked a heated discussion.
According to NetEase, Ding Yuanzhao graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Tsinghua University, followed by a master’s degree in Energy and Resource Engineering from Peking University, a PhD in Biology from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and a master’s degree in Biodiversity from Oxford University in the UK. After completing his studies, Ding Yuanzhao became a postdoctoral researcher at the National University of Singapore.
In March 2024, his contract expired without renewal, leading to unemployment. After about 10 unsuccessful job interviews, either rejected or with no response, he eventually registered as a delivery driver.
Referred to as the “most highly educated person in China’s food delivery industry,” Ding recently shared his experience in a short video, revealing that in 2004, when he took the college entrance examination, he scored close to 700 out of the maximum 750 points. To prove his educational background, he even displayed certificates of scholarships from Tsinghua University in other videos.
Encouraging exam candidates in the video, he stressed the importance of maintaining a positive mindset regardless of their exam results. He mentioned that if one does not perform well in exams, there is no need to be pessimistic or disappointed, as good exam results won’t necessarily determine significantly better future job opportunities for everyone.
Statistics show that this year, China will see a record-breaking 12.22 million graduates entering the job market. However, according to Zhaopin, a professional recruitment platform, the job-seeking success rate of postgraduate degree holders has dropped to 44.4%, even lower than the 45.4% success rate of undergraduate degree holders, reflecting a noticeable decline in the value of higher education.
Ding Yuanzhao’s new video has sparked discussions on social media platforms. Many netizens expressed sentiments such as “Lost in the pursuit of education, even college students find it difficult to secure jobs,” “Domestic doctoral candidates are required to be under 35 when seeking employment,” “Educational qualifications are no longer as valuable, as long as one lives happily,” and “What is the purpose of striving to study hard and enter prestigious schools?”