Photo of the Shaoyang College of Hunan Province. Screenshot of Toutiao News

The Shaoyang College of Hunan Province has sent over 20 master's degree teachers to Adamson University in the Philippines on Sunday and is prepared to hire them back after they receive their degree, according to netizens. The move aims at increasing the proportion of PhDs among faculty members in a short period of time, the college explained.

It is known that Adamson University is ranked below 600th in the QS Asian University Rankings 2021. 

However, the bonus for these to-be hired-back teachers includes an introduction fee for each PhD candidate of 350,000 yuan($51,870), a research start-up fee of 150,000 yuan, a transitional rental subsidy of 144,000 yuan, and an introduction fee for those with a spouse of 200,000 yuan. 

The public is questioning about the values of the doctor's degree and the use of funds. 

On Monday morning, a staff member of the Human Resources Department of the Hunan Provincial Education Bureau told reporters that they had paid attention to the public opinion and were investigating and dealing with the matter.