The State Council Academic Degrees Committee recently authorized the National Degree and Graduate Education Development Center to authenticate diplomas in China.

Since the reform and opening up, China's education has continuously expanded. By the end of 1998, altogether 400,000 people have acquired master degrees; 40,000 doctoral degrees. With these there are also about 400,000 students with bachelor degrees to be granted a year.

Since an increased flow of talents recurs in China, many work units and graduate schools need to check out the authenticity of their applicants' diplomas and score reports.

The center, higher education and scientific research institutions will establish an information net of degree acquirers at all levels, which will provide accurate and timely authentication service for diploma acquirers in China, and domestic and concerned foreign institutions.

The main work of the center is to authenticate the score reports of those who have been granted Bachelor, Master and Doctoral Degrees in China.

The center will directly mail its authentication reports to the work units and further study institutes. The authentication results will be kept at the center for a long period of time and can be inquired on the Internet or by telephone.