区域中心学者在英国媒体《泰晤士高等教育》（Times Higher Education）阐释二十大报告有关精神

Increasing innovation is now a central mission for Chinese universities

　The twice-a-decade conference, which ended on 22 October, has  been a momentous one for universities – with the strategic importance of education, especially higher education, to modern Chinese socialism stressed more than ever by General Secretary Xi.

　Previous national congresses have certainly articulated the central role of education in improving people’s well-being and quality of life. But this congress went much further. This time, according to the report delivered by Xi to the 20th national congress, education, science and technology, and human resources are the central planks of the plan to invigorate the country through science and education. Nothing less than the future of the party and nation depends upon the success of educational advancement.

　In essence, China’s vision is that supporting graduate talent will drive scientific and technological innovation, leading to improvements in national innovation capability and productivity. Without a well-funded, world-class education system, it is impossible to achieve this aim. But modernisation is also part of the plan and the national congress report suggests China’s universities can expect significant changes in coming years.

　But the report goes further. In past reports of the party congress, supporting science and technology was generally linked to economic development and improving human capital, while education matters were generally linked to issues around people’s livelihood and well-being. This time, all these strands are tightly interwoven, with our leader insisting that socialist education, better science and stronger graduates can support each other.

　The report requires all party members to fully recognise the fundamental importance of universal education and support for teaching at all ages, and in all types of educational institutions. We need to develop education that meets the people’s expectations. But it also endows a special mission to China’s world-class universities, particularly those supported by the Double First-Class Initiative.

　Policymakers and scholars acknowledge that universities are different: they are beacons of social progress and engines driving economic development, which shoulder the heavy responsibility of training top talent. Within this framework, universities are asked to bear the responsibility of Xi’s strategy of transforming China through science and education.

　In practice, this means producing talented graduates, encouraging innovation-led economic growth, pursuing novel fields of inquiry, and supporting the overall efficiency of the national innovation system. As seen in some other advanced economies, universities will soon be tasked with providing much more innovation and entrepreneurship education to their already often-commercially minded students. China is eager to accelerate the transition to a model of innovative universities, as previously seen with guidelines issued in October 2021 on supporting college students with innovation and entrepreneurship.

　Encouraging an entrepreneurial society is certainly not a new venture for Chinese universities but it will increasingly become a priority, with funding likely to follow those institutions whose graduates excel in this area.

Xi’s report underlines the central role that universities will play in the three strategies for invigorating China through science and education, skilling the workforce and driving innovation-led development. All three strategies place new demands on university staff. Colleges and universities will need to reform their innovation and entrepreneurship teaching and integrate innovation and entrepreneurship education into staff training.

Specific measures may include offering more theoretical and co-curricular courses, transforming teaching methods, strengthening the connection between course content and the real world, and fostering more spin-offs.

　While global university rankings will still matter, new assessments of innovation and entrepreneurship education will also become important indicators for Chinese universities. Similar changes have already begun in India, where the government launched the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievement in December 2021, to promote the transformation of universities and the establishment of an academic innovation and entrepreneurship system. Similar frameworks could soon arrive in China.

　Innovation will become increasingly central to China’s modernisation drive. In practice, it will mean mobilising resources nationwide to inspire greater creativity, investing more effectively in science and technology and advancing reform of the mechanisms for allocating government research funding. More incentives will be given to science strategists, first-class scientists and innovation teams, young scientists, outstanding engineers, master craftsmen and highly skilled workers.

　Combining support for world-class research, outstanding innovation activity and educational equity will be difficult and expensive. It will also require each of us to take up the heavy responsibility of modernising education in Chinese style. By doing so, however, China can create a new era of socialist education at universities with distinctive Chinese characteristics.

中文观点

　　中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会对高等教育发展而言也是一个重要的历史时刻，报告强调了高等教育对实现中国式现代化的重要作用。过去党代会的报告中，科技一般安排在经济建设中，教育一般是安排在社会建设中，人才一般安排在党的建设中。而此次把三大战略摆放在一起，强调了三者的有机联系和对中国式现代化建设的共同战略支撑。

　　同时，二十大报告指出，所有党员都要充分认识到加快建设高质量教育体系，发展素质教育，促进教育公平的重要性，要办好人民满意的教育，也强调了要加快建设中国特色、世界一流的大学和优势学科。 

　　文章认为，从本质上讲，我们的愿景是通过支持人才发展来推动科技创新，从而提高国家创新能力和生产力。鼓励以创新为主导的经济增长，开辟发展新领域新赛道，不断塑造发展新动能新优势。如果没有资金充足、世界一流的教育体系，难以实现这一目标。在未来几年，大学或将更加强调人才培养的创新性。正如在其他一些发达经济体所看到的那样，大学应承担起为其学生提供更多创新和创业教育的任务，如提供更多理论和实践创业课程、转变教学方法，加强课程内容与真实世界的联系，支持培育更多大学衍生企业等。

　　文章还提到，中国会提升科技投入效能，激发创新活力。加快建设国家战略人才力量，努力培养造就更多大师、战略科学家、一流科技领军人才和创新团队、青年科技人才、卓越工程师、大国工匠、高技能人才。加强人才国际交流，用好用活各类人才。

　　文章最后写道，党的二十大报告对教育、创新和人才发展提出了新期待，要求我们每一个人都肩负起推进中国教育现代化的重任，开创具有中国特色的社会主义高等教育新时代。

作者简介

倪好，浙江大学区域协调发展研究中心、中国西部发展研究院副研究员、国家制度研究院特约研究员。