Investigation of Learning and Employment Status in the Undergraduate Education of Speech Rehabilitation in Mainland China

What is already known on the subject The existing majors in China closely related to speech and hearing rehabilitation include "hearing and speech rehabilitation", which requires students to study both audiology and speech-language pathology. Speech rehabilitation programs in mainland China were initiated relatively late. There is considerable variation in the training goals and course content across Chinese universities. Additionally, there is a lack of a comprehensive review encompassing the faculty, course offerings, and outcomes for undergraduates in the field of speech rehabilitation in China. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge This study focuses on theoretical learning, practical training, and employment status. The monthly salary, workplace settings and work-field were investigated to access the employment status of undergraduates. The general quality of students, faculty and curriculum were also investigated to understand the current state of undergraduate education. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? This study emphasizes the future development of the discipline: strengthening the connection between theoretical learning and clinical practice by incorporating more case studies and enhancing the quality and diversity of clinical experiences; establishing an independent certification system for speech rehabilitation to promote the disciplinary development and support career advancement; and improving faculty quality through more rigorous recruitment, training and academic development, while fostering a collaborative academic collaboration.