context: STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education is at the core of transforming the PRC into a leading country for education. At the National Education Work Conference Xi Jinping 习近平 noted that amidst the new round of technological revolution, industrial transformation and unprecedented international competition for high-quality talent and technological high ground, education has become a key factor in enhancing national core competitiveness' winning strategic initiative.
On 23 February, Huai Jinpeng 怀进鹏 Minister of Education visited Shenzhen’s Crystal Pharmaceutical Technology Co Ltd Shenzhen Guangming Science City, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Sciences and Shenzhen University of Technology and Science.
He examined how new technologies are empowering
- drug development
- synthetic biology research
- brain facility applications
- medical technology innovation
- discipline construction at innovative research universities
Huai also chaired a forum on innovative research universities. Zhang Guozhi 张国智 Guangdong Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and vice governor, and Qin Weizhong 覃伟中 Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee deputy secretary and mayor, participated.
Huai noted
- the PRC's higher education is currently part of the great process of Chinese-style modernisation
- technological progress and industrial development have created unprecedented historical opportunities for universities
- the development of innovative research universities represents a major practice in changing traditional education models and building world-class universities
- it marks a strategic transformation and historic change in higher education to support Chinese-style modernisation
- quality higher education reform are led by
- innovations and practices in education positioning, governance systems, talent cultivation, technological innovation and faculty development
Huai emphasised the need to treat the construction of innovative research universities as a major reform practice to turn the PRC into a strong education nation. Innovative research universities should
- promote reforms and innovations in governance systems and education models
- advance industry-education integration and science-education fusion
- promote emerging and interdisciplinary subjects
- cultivate top innovative talents
- explore the establishment of Chinese standards and paradigms for innovative research universities
Huai hopes that Guangdong Province will utilise the geographical advantages of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area to further strengthen the construction of innovative research universities, build them into highlands for regional technological innovation and top talent cultivation and attract more quality domestic and foreign talent and social forces to participate.
At the forum, representatives from Shenzhen University of Technology and Science, Southern University of Science and Technology and Greater Bay University (preparatory) introduced their progress in building innovative research universities and their ideas and measures for serving national strategies and regional economic and social development.