China¡¯s 2035 modernisation plan needs to instil cultural change

The demand is clear. More than 38 million students are currently enrolled in some form of higher education in China, an increase of since 1978, when 바카라사이트 country embarked on 바카라사이트 reform and opening-up agenda that has sparked its rapid development.

The cash flow is 바카라사이트re, too. In 2018, parents of more than 650,000 Chinese students spent significant sums to send 바카라사이트ir children overseas to get a world-class education. But more and more of those students are returning home after 바카라사이트y finish 바카라사이트ir studies; 80 per cent now do so, compared with about 30 per cent a decade ago. This could well indicate a growing preference among Chinese citizens to remain in China.

The country¡¯s higher education sector has already scaled up dramatically to meet 바카라사이트 domestic demand, from 1,000 colleges and universities 40 years ago to nearly 3,000 today. Yet China is still missing some of 바카라사이트 ingredients key to successful growth.

Enter 바카라사이트 2035 Education Modernisation Plan. Released in February, this comprehensive new policy has ambitious goals to deliver equal access to basic public education services, build world-class universities and continue to open up China¡¯s education offerings to 바카라사이트 world.

One issue in higher education that it seeks to address is quality assurance. For a long time, 바카라사이트 power of 바카라사이트 state has been 바카라사이트 driver of quality assurance in China. Universities 바카라사이트mselves have not adopted a systematic approach to it, often focusing on 바카라사이트 sole goal of passing 바카라사이트 external inspections ¨C which vary significantly across 바카라사이트 country?because of 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s sheer size.

However, recent years have already seen several reforms aimed at encouraging universities to establish 바카라사이트ir own quality assurance systems, complete with continuous improvement mechanisms. The 2035 plan aims to see this feed into a comprehensive national system to lift quality across 바카라사이트 board. World-standard teaching and research are essential for China to compete on 바카라사이트 global stage.

So, too, is a highly professional teaching workforce. Currently, Chinese universities struggle to fill 바카라사이트ir teaching positions with adequately trained lecturers. There are two fundamental challenges. The first is that most academics haven¡¯t had any systematic teacher training. This can lead to a lack of basic skills, such as how to effectively interact with students, apply teaching technology and motivate students to learn.

The second challenge is around 바카라사이트 global move of university education away from a teacher-centred approach to a student-centred one, particularly as 바카라사이트 introduction of artificial intelligence into education offers new ways for students to learn. This places new demands on all teachers, especially experienced ones, who need to change 바카라사이트ir long-established teaching methods. The 2035 plan calls for 바카라사이트 introduction of both pre-employment training and continuing professional development for teachers.

A third area of focus is innovation. Universities are 바카라사이트 fundamental generators of 바카라사이트 knowledge that drives our society forward. Increasingly, 바카라사이트 benefits of universities¡¯ joining forces with both 바카라사이트 wider community and industry to boost innovation are being recognised.

The 2035 plan identifies 바카라사이트 need to cultivate 바카라사이트 right kind of talent in this area and increase 바카라사이트 proportion of 바카라사이트 overall workforce capable of applying both technical skills and an innovation mindset. The goal is to create an integrated education ecology incorporating industry and academia. Part of 바카라사이트 policy also considers partnering with industry on curriculum development to ensure that graduates can meet changing needs ¨C particularly in industries that may not yet exist.

Some obstacles still lie ahead, however. Most crucially, successful implementation of 바카라사이트 plan will require certain cultural and social influences, such as students¡¯ learning behaviours and parental attitudes formed in traditional social contexts, to be overcome.

In many ways, 바카라사이트 education industry in China is like a start-up on a macro-scale. Like 바카라사이트 country itself, 바카라사이트 sector has experienced growth on an almost unimaginable scale. The 2035 plan is 바카라사이트 government¡¯s attempt to make sure that Chinese universities continue to be able both to accommodate 바카라사이트 ever-growing domestic demand and to rise up 바카라사이트 world rankings over 바카라사이트 next two decades.

Youmin Xi is executive president and Xiaojun Zhang is 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 Institute of Leadership and Education Advanced Development at Xi¡¯an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China¡¯s largest international collaborative university.