Academic ranks in China are the titles, relative importance and power of professors, researchers, and administrative personnel held in academia.
Overview
Most universities in the People's Republic of China adopt a four-level academic rank system (Senior rank, Vice-Senior rank, Medium rank, and Junior rank), i.e. Professor, Associate professor, Lecturer, and Assistant lecturer.[1] More recently, some top universities (e.g. Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University) also added the American-style title of assistant professor, typically granted to tenure-track positions, with the expectation that they will be promoted to Associate professor (tenured or untenured) and then full professor (tenured) within the academic tenure system.[citation needed]
Most PhD graduates will initially be appointed at the lecturer level and receive the qualification to be promoted to associate professorship after several years of teaching. However, people holding a doctorate from Western universities and with some working experience overseas will occasionally be appointed at a higher level, in exceptional cases at the full professor level directly.[citation needed] Mostly, each individuate institute has only one principal rank (e.g. dean of a college, president of a university) and multiple deputy ranks.
Four-level academic rank in different series (Senior rank, Vice-Senior rank, Medium rank, and Junior rank)
Honorary Professor (名誉教授), usually awarded to academics with important social contributions
Distinguished Professor (特聘教授), usually awarded to academics with a recognized achievement in research
Guest professor, or commonly visiting professor (客座教授), usually awarded to distinguished visiting scholars
Administrative ranks
Secretary of the CPC Committee (党委书记), similar to Chancellor, who usually does not take administrative responsibilities
Associate Secretary of the CPC Committee (党委副书记), similar to Vice-Chancellor; the 1st order Associate Secretary is usually appointed President, with other Associate Secretaries being the Vice-President
President (校长), taking the major decision for academic and administrative affairs, assisted by Vice-Presidents
Vice-president (副校长), usually taking the responsibility of a certain area, e.g. academic, administrative, facilities, finance, etc.
