Human resource management professional talent development: A comparative analysis of undergraduate talent cultivation curricula at QS universities in China and north America

The development of world-class universities is a key strategy for advancing higher education globally. Universities are increasingly focusing on designing and optimizing their curricula to cultivate talent that can meet the evolving demands of economic and social development. This study analyzes and compares the undergraduate curricula for Human Resource Management (HRM) at five QS-ranked universities in China and North America (the United States and Canada). The research highlights the following key findings: (1) In terms of total graduation credits, Sichuan University in China requires 155 credits, which is higher than the four North American universities; (2) the HRM curricula at these five universities are distinct, with Ohio State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Saskatchewan placing greater emphasis on core business courses related to HRM; (3) the HRM courses offered at the four North American universities are rarely found in HRM curricula at other Chinese universities, which may limit students’ international perspectives and their global competitiveness in the HRM field.