context: For decades, eminent scientist Qian Xuesen’s question of ‘why our higher education has not produced outstanding talents’ has dominated thinking on graduate education reform. It has now taken on renewed urgency amid technological embargoes imposed on the country. The latest reforms will attempt to boost education quality as well as aligning it more closely with national and social demands.
At a press conference on 22 Sep 2020, Hong Dayong 洪大用 MoE (Ministry of Education) Department of Degree Management and Graduate Education director announced ten campaigns to implement graduate education reforms. Among them, training talents in critical technologies has been highlighted. Hong believes resources must be gathered from World Class 2.0 institutions and top enterprises, as well as implementing ‘extraordinary education schemes’ to expedite training.
Chu Zhaohui 储朝晖 National Institute of Education Sciences researcher interprets ‘extraordinary education schemes’ to refer to more focused training at the graduate level, reports Science and Technology Daily. The usual egalitarianism in evaluation should be avoided for these talents. Chu also believes universities should engage in institutional innovation to emphasise education quality and help students fulfill their potential.
Interdisciplinary studies could be one direction for training talents in critical technologies. At the July conference on graduate education, interdisciplinary studies were designated the 14th and latest discipline category, reports ScienceNet. IC, previously a subject under the level one discipline of electronic science and technologies, will become a level one discipline of its own under the new category of interdisciplinary studies. Hong says further support for interdisciplinary studies will require new development zones and research centres. A list of nationally supported disciplines will also be drawn up. Chu says the list is expected to include basic, as well as high tech, disciplines.