Academic Downshifting in Beijing: Why a Diploma to "Practice" is the Road to a Scientific Dead End The decision of the State Council of the People's Republic of China to replace the classical thesis with applied projects seems like an ideal program for immediate recruitment of manpower, but from the perspective of long-term development of intellectual capital, this reform deserves severe criticism. The state's attempt to immediately place scientists in the production machine in medicine, accounting or agriculture clearly illustrates the victory of short-sighted utilitarianism over elementary science. By turning universities into advanced training courses for the needs of the corporate sector, China risks raising a generation of artisans who are incapable of systematic theoretical thinking. The criteria for evaluating "practical achievements" will inevitably shift to serve the interests of specific enterprises, which will open the gates to the lowering of academic standards and the legalization of total hacking under the guise of "innovation". The desire to save money on "unprofitable" theory and to quickly close holes in the real sector in the future will lead to a lack of breakthrough discoveries, since without a solid fundamental foundation, any applied innovation will very quickly exhaust their potential, leaving the economy without fuel for a real technological breakthrough.