On Dec. 27, 23 government officials from Hainan were enrolled by Utah University in the United States, after completing various procedures including recommendations from their working units, preliminary exams, English training, interviews by related university and TOEFL test. They will stay at Utah University for one year and a half for the degree of EMPA((Executive Master of Public Administration). This is one part of Hainan’s campaign to wash the brain of officials to better administration. 

Sending officials abroad for further education triggered hot discussion of the line. Some people argued that education overseas would probably become tour at public expense. In my opinion, training on government officials itself is quite necessary. In real administration, loss caused by wrong decisions and short sight planning by officials worth much more than expense of training.

However, as the taxpayers, we do not want to see officials spending our money for nothing but for practical results and effect benefiting people in return. Therefore, education overseas at public expense should be supported by related policies:

First of all, education overseas should not be regarded as “coating” for upper status. It is highly suggested that those officials who study overseas should work at the grass root level when they come back.

Secondly, elimination system should be effective at the course of education. All officials selected are not sure to get adapted to overseas study and living. Some official who cannot fit into oversea environment should be sent back as soon as possible.

Thirdly, it is good to learn advanced management expertise and concepts overseas. However, we should prevent coping mechanically and applying indiscriminately.  Their administrative concepts should not be totally westernized.