Why brains are joining the brawn

For many these blue-uniformed public servants are the enemy. For others they are inextricably linked with violence, bullying and brutality. So why are Chinese graduates and postgraduates now joining the city's chengguan, the much loathed urban management officers?

Even a master's degree holder who has been educated abroad recently signed up with the blue jackets. Fu Yunjie, who obtained a master's degree in economics from the Australian National University last year, has recently been extensively profiled in national and city newspapers, including the Oriental Morning Post and the website of the People's Daily, as one example of overseas returnees working as chengguan.

Fu spends his normal working days patrolling the streets for illegal vendors and checking small shops for infringements in Minhang district. "When I was in Australia, I often read in the newspaper about China's ditch oil scandals and worsening environment. These stories affected me and made me want to bring Australia's urban management philosophy to Shanghai. This is also self-fulfillment," the 25-year-old told the Oriental Morning Post.

"My friends couldn't understand at first, and often joked with me, saying things like 'confiscate some cabbages from that street vendor for me.' But now they gradually understand my job," Fu said.

Interview rejected

However, Fu Yunjie is not reveling in publicity. He told the Global Times that personally he didn't want to be interviewed. "I won't do it unless my superiors order me to."

In Qingpu district, another young woman in the chengguan blue uniform is patrolling the streets. Zhang Ruyi got her bachelor's and master's degrees at Fudan University majoring in philosophy. She graduated in 2012.

She told the China Business News that she had initially applied for another position but was transferred to the chengguan. "I was born in Qingpu and am familiar with the streets and the people here. Maybe people think it's a waste for master's degree holders to patrol the streets, but we can't take it for granted that we will get a good job upon graduation. No job is tailor-made for our learning. What's important is how you use your knowledge in your work," said the 26-year-old.

According to official records, in 2011, of the 6,075 chengguan officers in Shanghai, only 36 (0.6 percent) had postgraduate degrees. At that time, 46.5 percent of the chengguan officers held bachelor's degrees and 50.1 percent had associate degrees or diplomas from technical colleges.

But the past two years has seen a surge in the number of postgraduate degree holders working as chengguan officers. In Qingpu district, of the 180 candidates who were competing for 60 chengguan positions this year, 119 held master's degrees and two held doctoral degrees. Many were from major universities like Fudan or Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Of the 55 people who got the job, 19 had master's degrees.

In Pudong New Area, about 20 percent of the chengguan officers recruited last year held master's degrees.

Lu Yuexing, director of the Shanghai Municipal Afforestation and City Appearance and Environmental Sanitation Administration, is encouraged by the fact that more people with higher education are joining the chengguan. "This is natural. It shows that urban management officers are better understood and supported by the public nowadays. The fact that people who have received a good education are joining us is conducive to a better chengguan team and better law enforcement," he said.

"We didn't purposely try to attract well-educated people but we are going to take advantage of this trend and let them adapt to the work quickly. We expect them to use their knowledge and insights to solve the difficulties we face in our work."