New strategies for development of China’s education, science, technology talents

THE report delivered by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the 20th national congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) outlined a vision for the nation as a modern socialist country, holds high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and is strategically situated and profound.

The discussion about education contains new ideas, new strategies, new connotations, and also puts forward new requirements.

In past reports, like those delivered at the 18th or 19th national congresses, education was usually embedded in the module about improving people’s well-being and quality of life.

This time, however, education, scientific and technological innovation, and talent development have been deployed systematically and synergistically, highlighting the importance of the strategies of invigorating the country through science and education in the process of Chinese modernisation.

Also, it reflects the strategic thought of General Secretary Xi Jinping that education is a major plan of the party and the country.

Prioritising the development of education relates to people’s livelihoods, to the happiness of people and is an important precursor to promoting the development of the party and the state’s undertakings.

The report explicitly takes education, science and technology and talent as the fundamental and strategic support for the comprehensive construction of a modernised socialist country. The new ideas outlined in the report to the 20th national congress points out the direction for the modernisation of Chinese education.

First, the report requires all CPC members to fully recognise who we are training talents for and who will lead the cause of education. Educating people for the party and for the country is the principle we must adhere to, and it is also the road that our educational reform must follow in development.

Second, it requests all the members to fully realise the mechanism and rule of the interaction among education, science and technology and talents, and the rule of mutual complementarity, mutual promotion and mutual development among them should be deeply grasped.

Last, to make greater use of the fundamental role of “education for a stronger country”, in promoting “science and technology for a stronger country” and “talents for a stronger country”, to adopt triad and co-ordinate a development approach, and exert synergy and promote the development of all aspects of the cause of the party and the country.

The development of education ultimately needs to be implemented at all levels and in all types of educational institutions. The university is a beacon of social progress, an engine leading the development of society, and shoulders the heavy responsibility of training high-level talents.

High-level research universities are the convergence point of talents, science and technology, and education, and should undertake the main responsibility of the strategy of developing the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the country with talents, and the strategy of innovation-driven development, opening up new fields and new tracks, shaping new momentum and new advantages for development, and providing assistance for the construction of the National Innovation System, as well as planning new paths and proposing new solutions for the implementation of a strong education.

How to run an education system that satisfies people, how to promote education equity, and how to better achieve common prosperity through education are all new missions of the communists on the new journey, and require each of us to take up the heavy responsibility of modernising education in Chinese style with a more proactive spirit of commitment and a stronger spirit of historical initiative, and continuously write a new chapter of socialist education with Chinese characteristics in the new era.