On the afternoon of May 15, 2024, the project initiation meeting for the Major Project of Philosophy and Social Sciences Research of the Ministry of Education, titled “Research on the Connotation, Characteristics, and Construction Path of Education Power,” was held at the Graduate School of Education. The project is led and hosted by Professor Qin Huimin, Dean of the institution, as the chief expert.
The expert review panel for the project initiation meeting consists of five distinguished scholars: Professor Qu Zhenyuan, Director of the Ministry of Education’s Institute for Graduate Employment; Professor Wang Zhanjun, Director of the Graduate Education Research Center at Beijing Institute of Technology; Professor Zhou Guangli, Dean of the School of Education at Renmin University of China; Research fellow Zhang Caiyun, editor-in-chief of Education Research and affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Educational Sciences; and Professor Ye Fugui, editor-in-chief of Tsinghua University Education Research and affiliated with the Institute of Education at Tsinghua University. Professor Qu Zhenyuan serves as the leader of the expert panel. Professor Wang Dinghua, Party Secretary of Beijing Foreign Studies University, attended the meeting and delivered an enthusiastic speech. Professor Zhang Tianwei, Director of the Scientific Research Office, also made opening remarks. All members of the research team were present at the meeting.
Party Secretary Wang Dinghua expressed sincere gratitude to the expert panel for their presence and guidance, and thanked the experts for their long-term care and support for the development and construction of Beijing Foreign Studies University and the field of education. He also pointed out that the construction of an education powerhouse is on the verge of launch, and conducting this major research project at this critical juncture holds significant theoretical and practical importance for the development of an education powerhouse. The research team can further focus on the major processes involved in building an education powerhouse, providing theoretical support and policy services for this endeavor, thereby enhancing the influence of academic research and enriching the outcomes of the project. The research team is composed of a strong lineup, led by chief expert Professor Qin Huimin. The implementation of this major research project is certain to elevate the level of discipline construction and talent cultivation in the field of education at Beijing Foreign Studies University. The university will also provide full support in terms of matching funds, management services, and other aspects to ensure the smooth progress of the research.
Director Zhang Tianwei pointed out that this project is the first major research project approved by the Ministry of Education for the philosophy and social sciences at our university, following the approval of two national social science major bidding projects. It represents a new stage and a new height in the development of the education discipline at Beijing Foreign Studies University. This project directly addresses the overarching issue of “building an education powerhouse” in the new era of China’s educational development, holding significant value in both theoretical research and policy services. It embodies the responsibility and commitment of Beijing Foreign Studies University to serve national strategies and contribute to the advancement of education. The Scientific Research Office will fully support the research work of this project to ensure that it achieves results on schedule.
Professor Qin Huimin, the chief expert of the research team, represented the team in delivering the keynote report for the project proposal, covering aspects such as the basic understanding of the tender topic, the overall research design and implementation plan, and the logical framework of the main topic. Professor Qin stated that China has already established the world’s largest educational system, and the overall level of educational modernization has entered the upper-middle category among world nations. The transition to an educational powerhouse will become the central theme of China’s educational development in the new era and new development stage. “Educational powerhouse,” as a strategic concept for national development, possesses political, directional, strategic, comprehensive, and guiding characteristics. The connotation of an educational powerhouse refers to the sum of the essential attributes or internal factors reflected by this concept, with its essential attribute being the realization of Chinese-style modernization in education, and achieving this ahead of the overall modernization of the nation. The characteristics of an educational powerhouse, as a reflection of its essential attributes, represent the harmonious unity of the Chinese characteristics of Chinese-style educational modernization and the world-class level of education that distinguishes it from other countries’ educational modernization. Subsequently, the heads of the eight sub-topics respectively reported on the research themes of their respective sub-topics, their logical relationships with the main topic, core content and methods, research steps, and expected outcomes, thereby describing the basic construction roadmap for an educational powerhouse.
The evaluation experts carefully reviewed the project proposal documents, listened to the reports from the research team members, engaged in in-depth discussions with the team, and delivered their evaluation opinions under the chairmanship of Professor Qu Zhenyuan, the head of the expert panel. The experts unanimously agreed that the project proposal had a clear logical structure, well-defined objectives and tasks, and closely aligned with the connotation, characteristics, and construction pathways of building an educational powerhouse. It demonstrated a high level of insight, deep understanding, and a practical framework, reflecting high quality and a feasible research design with promising outcomes. The chief expert of the project and the heads of the sub-topics, along with the core members, exhibited strong academic capabilities and competence. The team composition was well-structured and vibrant, with a clear grasp of the key research challenges. The preliminary groundwork for the research was thorough and solid, and the supporting conditions provided by the host institution were favorable. The expert panel unanimously approved the major research project to proceed after the proposal stage. They recommended that the research team quickly produce a series of influential research findings on building an educational powerhouse, distill leading educational innovation ideas and policy recommendations, while also providing specific suggestions for improvement regarding the project’s structure, approach, methodology, innovative points, and outcome formats.
Finally, Professor Qin Huimin, on behalf of the research team and the Graduate School of Education at Beijing Foreign Studies University, expressed gratitude to the experts for attending the project proposal meeting amidst their busy schedules and providing crucial guidance. He thanked the experts for their full affirmation of the research design and their valuable suggestions for improvement. He also stated that the research team would further conduct in-depth research and discussion based on the expert panel’s feedback, coordinate efforts holistically and advance systematically to ensure the high-quality completion of the research tasks.
