University offers new bachelor's in matrimonial expertise

China Civil Affairs University has established the nation's first university degree in marriage, aiming to foster professionals in all matrimony-related sectors from matchmaking to couples counseling.

Yu Xiaohui, dean of the university's wedding culture and media arts college, said that the undergraduate program, called marriage services and management, will offer courses in management, sociology, marriage industry economics, family ethics and more, as well as core modules focusing on practical skills such as flower arranging, photography and event hosting.

"We are looking to cultivate talents covering the entire cycle of marriage and family, from marriage registration, marriage and family counseling, to wedding services and matchmaking," she said.

The university's campus in Beijing will have a marriage customs exhibition center and offer students a number of training studios where they can improve and practice various skills.

They will also be able to take internships through the program's partnerships with local civil affairs authorities, wedding culture associations, and leading nuptial planning companies.

"Graduates of the program are expected to fill roles such as marriage registration personnel, marriage and family counselors, wedding planners and matchmakers," she said.

The inaugural batch of 68 students started their first semester in September, the university said.

The marriage-themed program has been initiated as the younger generation's reluctance about tying the knot could be changing.

China registered 7.68 million marriages in 2023, up more than 12 percent from the previous year, and ending a decline lasting nearly a decade, according to Ministry of Civil Affairs data.

Experts have attributed the uptick primarily to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also predicted that it would be temporary. For the first nine months of this year, about 4.7 million marriages were registered, down 943,000 year-on-year.

Huang Jie, a 19-year-old freshman studying the matrimony major, said during an interview with Beijing Daily that he aspires to become a capable matchmaker after graduation.

"My sister, who is six years older than me, has been on a string of blind dates set up by our family but none of them worked out," he said. "She told me that she is tired of matchmaking, but does not want to settle down too easily. She is looking for a partner who connects with her spiritually and emotionally."

Huang hopes that matchmaking sessions can be provided in a more relaxed and comfortable manner in the future, and potential professionals like him can play a constructive role.

Zhang Mengzhuo, another student, said that a number of newlyweds like incorporating ancient customs into their nuptials, which requires event planners to understand Chinese traditional weddings' intricate details and cultural connotations.

She appreciates the management courses and hopes to gain knowledge in family finance management and family psychology. After graduation, Zhang hopes to get a job at a marriage registration office.

Yu, the college dean, said that there is a lack of professionals specializing in marriage-related sectors.

Education programs that train professionals who solely specialize in planning wedding receptions cannot meet society's demands, and more efforts are needed to nurture those who understand romantic relationships and are educated in marriage and family counseling, she added.