2022 National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education Held at Jiangxi Normal University
As the entire nation deeply studies and implements Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the 2022 National Academic Symposium on Ideological and Political Education was held at Jiangxi Normal University on December 11. The symposium aimed to better consolidate soul and foster spirit [1] using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and to promote the innovative development of ideological and political education in the New Era.
The conference was hosted by the Institute of Marxism Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Jiangxi 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 Jiangxi Normal University. Co-organizers included the editorial boards of Marxism Studies (《马克思主义研究》), Guide to Ideological and Theoretical Education (《思想理论教育导刊》), and the Journal of Jiangxi Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition); the School of Marxism at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; and the research group of the National Social Science Fund Major Project "Research on the Innovative Contribution of the Path of Chinese-Path Modernization to the Development of Human Civilization." Leaders, experts, and scholars from universities and research institutes—including Tsinghua University, Beijing Normal University, Zhejiang University, Nankai University, Fudan University, Wuhan University, Jinan University, the Hunan Academy of Social Sciences, the Qinghai Academy of Social Sciences, and the Henan Academy of Social Sciences—attended the meeting. The conference was conducted via a combination of online and offline formats.
Xin Xiangyang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies; Gong Jianwen, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Provincial Civilization Office; Wang Lixia, Member of the Education Work Committee of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Provincial Education Department; and Huang Jiawen, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jiangxi Normal University, attended the opening ceremony. Zhou Lisheng, Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Jiangxi Normal University, presided over the opening ceremony.
Xin Xiangyang delivered an address at the opening ceremony. On behalf of the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, he extended a warm welcome to the participating experts and scholars, expressed heartfelt thanks to Jiangxi 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 Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the fundamental compliance [2] for conducting ideological and political work. It is essential to unswervingly use this Thought to arm the mind, guide practice, and cast souls to nurture people. First, we must take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide to advance theoretical innovation and practical exploration of ideological and political education on the new journey of the New Era. Second, we must firmly grasp the important principles of ideological and political education in service of Chinese-path modernization to promote its innovative development. Third, based on the cultivation of good youth of the New Era who possess ideals, dare to take on responsibilities, are capable of enduring hardship, and are willing to struggle, we must implement the fundamental task of "fostering virtue through education" [3] in ideological and political theory courses.
Gong Jianwen delivered an address on behalf of the Publicity Department of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee. She pointed out that ideological and political education is a fine tradition, a distinctive feature, and a prominent political advantage of the Party, serving as the lifeblood of all work. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to ideological and political work, delivering a series of important expositions and instructions on various occasions, providing the fundamental compliance for this work. She stated that in future work, we must: first, persist in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide for ideological and political education; second, persist in centering the work on comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization; and third, persist in the simultaneous advancement of theoretical research, practical management, and disciplinary construction.
Wang Lixia delivered an address on behalf of the Education Work Committee of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Education Department. He stated that Jiangxi has historically attached great importance to ideological and political education in schools, always regarding General Secretary Xi Jinping's important requirements as the fundamental pointer and the use of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to cast souls and nurture people as the primary mission. He noted that the provincial education authorities persist in the unity of "explicit education" and "implicit education," deeply promoting the integration of the classroom, campus, society, and the internet. They strive to ensure that "ideological-political courses" and "course-based ideological-political elements" [4] move in the same direction, clearly and firmly keeping ideological and political education in hand. He proposed three requirements: first, work hard on using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to consolidate soul and foster spirit; second, seek breakthroughs in deeply advancing the innovation of methods and channels; and third, see results in promoting the construction of the "Great Ideological and Political Course" [5] system.
Huang Jiawen delivered an address on behalf of Jiangxi Normal University. He pointed out that ideological and political work in universities concerns the fundamental questions of what kind of people to cultivate, how to cultivate them, and for whom they are being cultivated. Regarding the symposium theme, "Ideological and Political Education from the Perspective of the New Leap in the Sinicization of Marxism," he offered three suggestions: first, profoundly study and interpret the important thesis that "Marxism works, especially when it is Sinicized and adapted to the times"; second, profoundly study and interpret the laws governing the innovative development of ideological and political education on the new journey of the New Era; and third, profoundly study and interpret the major task of cultivating good youth for the New Era. He expressed hope that experts and scholars would continue to support the development of Marxist disciplines and ideological-political work at Jiangxi Normal University, working together to uphold the fundamentals and break new ground in the development of ideological and political work in the New Era.
The forum consisted of five keynote report sessions and six parallel sub-forums. During the keynote sessions, 33 experts delivered plenary reports; in the sub-forums, 58 experts shared their academic findings.
Following the opening ceremony, keynote reports were delivered by a wide range of distinguished scholars, including Xin Xiangyang (CASS); Luo Yuting (Wuhan University); Zhong Jun (Hunan Academy of Social Sciences); Liu Shulin (Tsinghua University); Zhang Guozuo (Hunan University); Wang Shuyin (Beijing Normal University); She Shuanghao (Wuhan University); Gao Guoxi (Fudan University); Feng Gang (Beijing Normal University); Xiang Jiuyu (Wuhan University); Jiang Zhongyue (Beijing Normal University); Xia Quan (Jinan University); Liu Zhiming (CASS); Wang Yonggui (Nanjing Normal University); Li Youxin (Xiangtan University); Wang Xinsheng (Nankai University); Wang Chengzhe (Henan Academy of Social Sciences); He Xinyuan (CASS); Wu Jiaqing (Guangxi University); Yan Lianfu (Xi'an Jiaotong University); Wang Shuqin (Capital Normal University); Ren Xiaowei (Xizang Minzu University/Shaanxi Normal University); Yu Bin (CASS); Li Ran (Fudan University); Wu Hongzheng (Jilin University); Dai Yuqi (Zhejiang University); Zou Shaoqing (Southwest University); Suo Duanzhi (Qinghai Academy of Social Sciences); Li Deping (Nanchang University); Wan Meirong (Central China Normal University); Wang Xisheng (Anhui Normal University); Wang Gang (Nanjing Normal University); and Wu Huaiyou (Jiangxi Normal University).
The reporting sessions were presided over by Li Jianguo (Executive Deputy Editor of Marxism Studies), Zhang Nan (Deputy Editor of Guide to Ideological and Theoretical Education), Wang Jianguo (Deputy Editor of Socialism Studies), Dai Lichao (Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Jiangxi Normal University), and Liu Di (Deputy Editor of Research in Ideological and Political Education).
The six parallel forums were presided over by experts and editors from various academic institutions and major publications, including Guangming Daily, Jianghan Tribune, and China Education Daily. Participants engaged in spirited discussions on cutting-edge academic issues.
Li Nan, Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, presided over the sub-forum summary session. Deans and professors from various universities summarized the exchanges from their respective sub-forums.
Liu Ailing, Director of the Ideological and Political Education Research Office at the CASS Institute of Marxism Studies, provided the final summary of the symposium. She noted that the participating experts displayed a broad vision and profound theoretical exploration. This included summarizing historical experiences of ideological and political education from grand hundred-year narratives, as well as exploring innovations for the New Era; prospective reflections on implementing the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress, as well as investigations into basic concepts and methodologies; and comparative international perspectives alongside excavations of traditional Chinese culture. She characterized the event as a successful academic feast.
You Lin, Executive Dean of the School of Marxism at Jiangxi Normal University, noted in her concluding remarks that the symposium was large in scope, significant in meaning, deep in thought, and distinctive in value, characterized by a rigorous academic style. She cordially invited the experts to continue providing guidance to the university.
Finally, Professor Bai Xianliang, Vice President of Hainan Normal University and Dean of the School of Marxism at Southwest University, spoke on behalf of the hosts for the 2023 symposium, inviting colleagues to gather again next year. Professor Xiang Jiuyu of Wuhan University presided over the closing ceremony.