The 3rd Forum on Marxism for Universities in West China was opened at Lanzhou University on July 14th, with School of Marxism being the organizer. Focused on the theme of “learning, publicizing and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and comprehensively enhancing ideological and political courses”, the forum was a move to practice the spirit of College Ideological and Political Work Conference, to bring into colleges Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, to create a platform for the schools of Marxism of universities in West China, and to promote the common development of Marxist discipline of the universities.
The opening ceremony was attended by Wang Chengyong, deputy director of Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department, and Guo Qi, deputy director of Party Committee Propaganda Department of Lanzhou University. Other participants were 162 scholars from the schools of Marxism of 65 universities, who also attended the inauguration to Lanzhou University Institute of Ideological and Political Education for a New Era. Professor Zhang Xinping from our school chaired the opening ceremony.
The forum had three sessions on its theme. Firstly, four experts delivered keynote speeches which were recapitulative and insightful. Revolving around the curriculum reform of the course Basic Principles of Marxism, Professor Liu Jianjun from Renming University shared his methodology of reading literatures on CPC and composing interpretive papers. From the perspective of learning President Xi’s speeches, Professor Tong Hua of Peking University analyzed the curriculum reform of the course Essentials of Modern History & Contemporary History of China. Based on the connotation and meaning of “New Era”, Professor Liu Xianchun from Lanzhou University analyzed the logic of revising the coursebooks for the course Introduction to Mao Zedong Thought andTheoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Based on the practice of bringing into colleges Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, professor Wang Xuejian pointed out that the course Morals and Ethics & Fundamentals of Law should reflect the updated research results in theory and practice.
In session 2, ten scholars gave speeches on 4 topics which were 1) further bringing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into coursebook, into class, and into students’ mind, and converting theory into teaching results, 2) renovating teaching methodology for ideological and political courses so as to better impart the proper values, 3) sticking to the mission of setting highmoral values and cultivating talents comprehensively so as to improve universities’ ability to cultivate students, and 4) promoting exchange and cooperation in a creative way for co-development of the schools of Marxism. Their speeches were informative and accurate, rich in content and clear in standpoint.
Session 3 was devoted to teaching demonstration in which some excellent teachers showed how to teach ideological and political courses in the new era. Shen Zhen from Beijing University of Technology, Wang Heng from Renming University and Li Dongpo from Lanzhou University presented three model classes introducing what they have achieved in bringing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into coursebook, into class, and into students’ mind.
The forum was an important move to improve the teaching quality of ideological and political courses, and to promote the discipline of Marxism in terms of theoretical research and discipline construction. It was given attention to by the Ministry of Education, Gansu Provincial Propaganda Department and Provincial Department of Education. The Party Committee, Propaganda Department and Postgraduate Student Affairs Office of Lanzhou University were involved in the organization of the forum.
The participants noted that the forum displayed the periodical results of bringing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into coursebook, into class and into students’ mind. It represented the teaching level of ideological and political courses in the concerned universities. Marxism project experts clarified the principles of revising the course books, the content revised and methods of using the books, and thus helped promote the construction of the courses. Besides, the forum facilitated the communication between the schools of Marxism of universities in West China, and boosted the co-development of their Marxist discipline. The discussion was insightful and enlightening, deepening the participants’ understanding of various issues.
The transition ceremony occurred as a part of the closing ceremony. According to the agreement, the next forum will be held at Xi’an Jiaotong University. Jointly initiated by Lanzhou University, Sichuan University, Xi’an Jiaotong University and Southwest University, the forum aims to promote the discipline construction of schools of Marxism of universities in West China by sharing experience and results.
中文
