2021 National Symposium on Ideological and Political Education Held at Inner Mongolia Normal University
In 2021, the nation joyfully celebrated the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which 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 "forge the soul and educate the person" [1], promote the innovative development of ideological and political education in the New Era, and effectively improve its efficacy, the 2021 National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education was held 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 CPC Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 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, and co-organized by the journals Marxism Studies (Makesizhuyi Yanjiu), Guide to Ideological and Theoretical Education (Sixiang Lilun Jiaoyu Daokan), Ideological Education Research (Sixiang Jiaoyu Yanjiu), and Ideological and Political Education Research (Sixiang Zhengzhi Jiaoyu Yanjiu), alongside the School of Marxism at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The opening ceremony was attended by Xin Xiangyang, Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Cheng Enfu, Member of the CASS Academy of Social Sciences and Chief Professor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Alatangcang, Party Secretary of Inner Mongolia Normal University; Han Qingxiang, First-Class Professor at 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 CPC Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Committee; and Shi Jun, Second-Level 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.
On behalf of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, Xin Xiangyang extended a warm welcome to the experts and scholars in attendance, expressed heartfelt thanks to the host, Inner Mongolia Normal University, 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 lifeline of all other work [2]. The fundamental reason the Chinese Communists have been able to unite and lead the Chinese people in opening a great path, creating a great cause, and achieving great accomplishments is that they have Marxism as their 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 use history as a mirror, drawing wisdom and strength from history to move toward the Great Rejuvenation and open new horizons for ideological and political work. First, we must persist in taking Marxism and its Sinicized theories as guidance, giving full play to the immense ideological power of scientific theory. Second, we must carry forward the Great Founding Spirit of the Party [3], continue the "Red Bloodline," and provide inexhaustible spiritual power for "traversing the new path of the 'great examination' in the New Era" [4]. Third, we must integrate "learning history to clarify principles" [5] into the teaching of political theory courses, stimulating the striving power of youth to work toward the realization of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He stated that henceforth, 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 broad community of experts and scholars. Together, they will make unremitting efforts to promote the construction of the Marxist disciplinary, academic, and pedagogical systems, 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 expressed a warm welcome and sincere thanks to the experts on behalf of the Publicity Department of the CPC Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Committee. He pointed out that ideological and political education work is a fine tradition, a distinct characteristic, and a prominent political advantage of the Party, and is the lifeline of all work. Strengthening and improving ideological and political education is a matter concerning the future and destiny of the Party, the long-term peace and stability of the country, and national cohesion and centripetal force. Since the 18th National Congress [6], the Party 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 advance it effectively. This work has played an important role in unifying thinking, building consensus, inspiring morale, and uniting for struggle. In future work, it is hoped that the broad masses of educators will fully implement the Party's educational policy, persist in the socialist direction of schooling, take "cultivating virtue and nurturing people" (立德树人, lì dé shù rén) as the fundamental task, and persist in "all-staff, whole-process, and all-round" education. We must accelerate the construction of the school ideological and political work system, coordinating resources and forces across school governance, education, and personnel cultivation to foster socialist builders and successors who are well-developed in ethics, intellect, physique, aesthetics, and labor. At the same time, we must give full play to the role of classroom teaching as the main channel, promote the reform and innovation of ideological and political theory courses, deeply tap into the educational functions of various academic disciplines, and push the Party's innovative theories and revolutionary traditions into textbooks, into classrooms, and into [students'] heads. We must also improve the mechanism for joint management of adolescent ideals and convictions, guiding young people to "fasten the first button" of their lives [7].
Alatangcang, representing Inner Mongolia Normal University, expressed a warm welcome and sincere thanks to the experts. He pointed out that at present, the whole Party and nation 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 rapidly transform 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 "educating people for the Party and cultivating talents for the country." This is the essential meaning and mission of ideological and political education. Over its nearly 70 years of operation, Inner Mongolia Normal University has always held fast to the lifeline of ideological and political work, insisting on integrating "forging the soul and educating the person" into the entire process of education and teaching, and promoting effective results in the reform of "curriculum-based ideological and political education" [8]. Simultaneously, as a university in an ethnic minority region, it focuses on the main line of ethnic work, highlighting education on "forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation." The inaugural session of the National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education was held at Inner Mongolia Normal University in 2011; its return here for the 10th anniversary fully reflects the concern and support of the symposium’s leaders and academic colleagues for this university and for the work in Inner Mongolia. Looking ahead, he hoped experts and scholars would continue to provide valuable suggestions for the university’s Marxist discipline construction to promote the development of ideological and political work through upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground.
Following the opening ceremony, keynote reports were delivered by several distinguished scholars including Xin Xiangyang, Cheng Enfu, Han Qingxiang, and Liu Shulin (Professor at the School of Marxism, Tsinghua University), among others. Reports were also given by university leaders and renowned professors from various institutions across China, covering a wide range of theoretical and practical issues in Marxist education. The sessions were presided over by senior researchers and Party officials from the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and provincial universities.
The symposium featured seven sub-forums where representatives spoke enthusiastically on the theme of the conference and engaged in heated discussions on frontier academic issues. Summary reports from these forums were presented by deans and professors from institutions such as Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Southern Medical University, and Ningbo University, sharing the results of their exchanges.
To coincide with the tenth anniversary of the symposium, an award ceremony for outstanding papers was held. The symposium received 569 submissions. After screening by nine experts, 78 papers were selected for the conference. Following two rounds of blind review and a final evaluation by a committee organized by the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies and Inner Mongolia Normal University, 5 papers were awarded First Prize, 10 received Second Prize, and 15 received Third Prize. Award winners from institutions including China University of Geosciences, Tianjin University, and Shandong Normal University 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 being timely and significant, featuring an unprecedented gathering of prominent figures, and maintaining an expansive vision focused on the core themes. She also provided a brief overview of the symposium’s decade-long history, thanked the collaborating universities and scholars, and pledged to continue improving the symposium to contribute to academic research in ideological and political education. The closing ceremony was presided over by Li Chunhui, Member of the Party Committee of Inner Mongolia Normal University, Head of its Publicity Department, and Dean of the School of Marxism.
As a flagship conference of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, the National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education has gained extensive support and attention from experts and scholars over the past decade. It has developed into a large-scale, high-end annual academic event within the field. The CASS Institute of Marxism Studies will continue to use this meeting as a platform for experts, scholars, and ideological and political educators to exchange ideas and learn from one another.