2021 National Academic Seminar on Ideological and Political Education Held at Inner Mongolia Normal University
In 2021, as the heavy celebratory atmosphere of the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) filled the air, it also marked the tenth anniversary of the National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education. At this momentous occasion of national celebration, in order to commemorate the Party’s centenary, deeply study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Ceremony Marking the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPC, use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to cast the soul and nurture the person [1], promote the innovative development of ideological and political education in the New Era, and effectively improve the efficacy of such education, the 2021 National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education was convened at Inner Mongolia Normal University on July 18. This conference was hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Publicity Department of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Party Committee, and Inner Mongolia Normal University. It was organized by the Department of Marxism Sinicization Research of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and the School of Marxism at Inner Mongolia Normal University, with co-sponsorship from Marxism Studies (Markesizhuyi Yanjiu), Guide to Ideological and Theoretical Education (Sixiang Lilun Jiaoyu Daokan), Ideological Education Research (Sixiang Jiaoyu Yanjiu), Ideological and Political Education Research (Sixiang Zhengzhi Jiaoyu Yanjiu), and the School of Marxism at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The opening ceremony was attended by Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Cheng Enfu, Member of the CASS Academic Division and Chief Professor of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Alatangcang, Party Committee Secretary of Inner Mongolia Normal University; Han Qingxiang, Grade-I Professor of the Central Party School of the CPC (National Academy of Governance); Li Chunlin, President of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Academy of Social Sciences; Zhang Zhaogang, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Party Committee; and Shi Jun, Grade-II Inspector of the Education Department of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Gong Jian, Vice President of Inner Mongolia Normal University, presided over the opening ceremony.
Xin Xiangyang, representing the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, expressed a warm welcome to the experts and scholars attending the meeting, extended heartfelt thanks to Inner Mongolia Normal University for hosting the event, and paid high tribute to the teachers and scholars working diligently in the field of ideological and political education. He pointed out that ideological and political work is the lifeblood of all other work [2]. The fundamental reason why Chinese Communists have been able to unite and lead the Chinese people in opening up a great path, creating a great cause, and achieving great accomplishments is that they have Marxism as a guide for action; this is inseparable from our Party's consistent emphasis on ideological and political work. Ideological and political education in the New Era must take history as a mirror, drawing wisdom and strength from history to march toward the great rejuvenation and create a new situation for ideological and political work. First, we must persist in taking Marxism and its Sinicized theories as guidance, giving full play to the immense intellectual power of scientific theories. Second, we must carry forward the Great Founding Spirit of the Party [3], continue the red lineage, and provide inexhaustible spiritual power for traveling the "new road of tests" [4] in the New Era. Third, we must integrate "learning history to clarify principles" [5] into the teaching of political theory courses to stimulate the fighting strength of youth striving for the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He stated that in the future, the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies will continue to persist in "running the institute with open doors," actively expanding exchanges and cooperation with universities, scientific research and teaching institutions, and the vast community of experts and scholars. Together, they will make unremitting efforts to promote the construction of the disciplinary, academic, and pedagogical systems of Marxism, and to develop contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism.
Entrusted by Comrade Lin Shaochun, Deputy Secretary of the Autonomous Region Party Committee, Zhang Zhaogang represented the Publicity Department of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Party Committee in welcoming and thanking the experts. He noted that ideological and political work is a fine tradition, a distinct feature, and a prominent political advantage of the Party, and serves as the lifeblood of all work. Strengthening and improving ideological and political work concerns the future and destiny of the Party, the long-term stability of the country, and the cohesion and centripetal force of the nation. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to ideological and political work, taking a series of major measures to promote it effectively. Ideological and political work has played an important role in unifying thinking, building consensus, inspiring fighting spirit, and fostering united struggle. In future work, he hoped that educators would comprehensively implement the Party's educational policy, persist in the socialist direction of schooling, and take "cultivating virtue and nurturing people" (立德树人, lì dé shù rén) as the fundamental task. They should adhere to "all-staff, all-process, and all-round" education (san quan yu ren), speed up the construction of the school ideological and political work system, and coordinate resources such as school management, teaching, and talent cultivation. This aims to train socialist builders and successors with an all-round development in ethics, intellect, physique, aesthetics, and labor. At the same time, it is necessary to give full play to the role of classroom teaching as the main channel, promote the reform and innovation of ideological and political theory courses, and deeply tap into the educational functions of various disciplines and professional courses. This will promote the Party's innovative theories and revolutionary traditions "entering textbooks, entering classrooms, and entering minds." It is essential to improve the mechanism for the collaborative education of youth in ideals and convictions, guiding them to "fasten the first button of life" [6].
Alatangcang, on behalf of Inner Mongolia Normal University, expressed a warm welcome and sincere gratitude to the experts. He pointed out that currently, the whole Party and the entire country are deeply studying and implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Ceremony Marking the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPC. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council have just issued the "Opinions on Strengthening and Improving Ideological and Political Work in the New Era." Accordingly, we must translate the Party's latest theoretical achievements, the General Secretary's latest speech spirit, and the Central Committee's latest deployments and requirements into the newest resources for "nurturing people for the Party and cultivating talents for the country." This is the proper meaning and mission of ideological and political work. Over nearly 70 years of operation, Inner Mongolia Normal University has always held fast to the lifeblood of ideological and political work, insisting on integrating "soul-casting" and nurturing into the entire process of education and teaching, and promoting the reform of "curriculum-based ideological and political education" [7] to achieve continuous results. Simultaneously, as a university in an ethnic minority area, it focuses on the main line of ethnic work, highlighting the education for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. The first session of the National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education was held at Inner Mongolia Normal University in 2011, and it has returned here for its 10th anniversary, which fully reflects the concern and support of the leaders and colleagues in the academic community for our university and the work in Inner Mongolia.
Following the opening ceremony, a series of keynote reports were delivered by prominent scholars including Xin Xiangyang, Cheng Enfu, Han Qingxiang, Liu Shulin (Tsinghua University), Zhang Zuoguo (Hunan University), Qu Jianwu (Dalian Maritime University), and others. These reports were presided over by leading figures such as Qian Yingwei, Liu Zhiming, Li Jianguo, and He Xinyuan.
The symposium featured seven sub-forums where representatives spoke enthusiastically on the theme of the conference and conducted heated discussions on frontier academic issues. Summary reports from these forums were presented by various deans and professors from institutions such as Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and East China University of Science and Technology.
To mark the tenth anniversary, an award for outstanding papers was organized. The symposium received 569 submissions, of which 78 were selected for the conference following a screening by nine experts. After two rounds of blind peer review and a final committee evaluation, 5 first-class prizes, 10 second-class prizes, and 15 third-class prizes were awarded to scholars from various institutions including China University of Geosciences, Lanzhou University, and Nankai University. Three award winners shared the core arguments of their papers.
Li Chunhua, a researcher at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, delivered the concluding remarks. she characterized the symposium as timely, highly significant, and exceptionally grand, featuring a broad academic vision and a gathering of "big names" in the field. She also provided a brief overview of the symposium’s ten-year history, expressed gratitude to partnering universities and scholars, and pledged to continue making the symposium a vital platform for academic exchange. Li Chunhui, a member of the Party Committee of Inner Mongolia Normal University and Dean of the School of Marxism, presided over the closing ceremony.
As a signature conference of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education has gained significant support and attention over the past decade, evolving into a large-scale, high-end annual academic event in the field. The CASS Institute of Marxism Studies will continue to use this conference as a platform for experts, scholars, and ideological and political workers to exchange ideas and learn from one another.