"Learn Bathhouse Skills, No More Job Worries"... An Unusual University Opens in a Chinese Resort City

Shenyang Vocational and Technical College in China to Establish "Bath University"
Signs MOU with Bath Industry Association to Support Employment
Boom in Bath Industry... Focus on Guaranteed Job Placement

News that a vocational college in China is establishing a "Bath University" has become a hot topic. On September 9, Seoul Shinmun, citing Jimu News in China, reported that "Shenyang Vocational and Technical College, located in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, signed a 'Talent Development Strategy Cooperation' Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Shenyang Municipal Authorities and the Shenyang Bath Industry Association on the 4th, and decided to establish the 'Bath Leisure and Health Management Industry University.'

Image to aid understanding of the article. Pixabay

At this university, students will be able to major in bathhouse techniques and health management, as well as digital marketing, with facilities modeled after bathhouses from China, Japan, Thailand, Israel, and other countries. In addition, the university has entered into agreements with industry partners to guarantee employment for graduates. The university stated, "Shenyang is called a 'bath and leisure city,' but there is a shortage of professionals," adding, "We aim to train highly skilled personnel needed in the bath industry."

After this news broke, "Bath University" quickly became a trending search keyword on Chinese portal sites such as Baidu. Chinese netizens reacted with disbelief, saying, "We are now in an era where you pay tuition to learn how to scrub in a bathhouse," and "Are there professors who teach scrubbing?" On the other hand, some commented, "There are departments for pet care and skin care, so it is not strange for a bath university to exist."

Recently, the bath industry in China, including luxury spas, foot baths, and massage services, has been booming. According to media reports, the industry has surpassed 400 billion yuan (about 78 trillion won) in scale. Similar to Korea's jjimjilbang culture, large bathhouses are becoming complex leisure facilities equipped with accommodations, buffet restaurants, massage shops, and game centers.

Shenyang Vocational and Technical College, located in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for "Talent Development Strategy Cooperation in the Bath Industry" on the 4th with the Shenyang Municipal Authorities and the Shenyang Bath Industry Association, and decided to establish the "Bath Leisure and Health Management Industry University." Shenyang Vocational and Technical College website

In particular, with youth unemployment in China at a severe level, "guaranteed employment" is seen as an attractive feature. In July, the unemployment rate for Chinese youth aged 16 to 24 (excluding students) reached 17.8%, the highest since August of last year (18.8%). After youth unemployment hit a record high of 21.3% in June 2023, Chinese authorities suspended the release of statistics, only to resume with revised criteria. Nevertheless, the employment situation has not improved.

Chinese youth are suffering from extremely low wages and the so-called "996" work culture (working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week), which is characterized by intense work demands. On social networking services (SNS), images of graduates from prestigious universities opening street stalls are spreading. New terms have also emerged, such as "full-time children," referring to those who give up job hunting to live with and help their parents, and "full-time grandchildren," describing those who prefer to stay with their grandparents and fulfill filial duties rather than seek employment. Regarding the establishment of "Bath University," some on SNS have commented, "There are too many universities and university students in China."