While reforms have helped to make China the world's second-largest economy, teaching and research in economics on the university level needs to be improved so the country, economy and higher education can continue to progress on a par with international schools.
Tian Guoqiang, dean of the school of economics at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE), has compiled a book, China's Education Reform, Philosophy, Strategy and Practice, to boost higher education in the country. The book offers advice on prominent issues with China's higher education development. Meanwhile, it also introduces the reform experiences of economics education conducted by Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and its department of finance and economics.
Over the three decades since reform and opening up, China has been advancing steadily in market reform, merging further with the world economic system to become a leading economy. However, the success in economic transformation hasn't completely transferred to the country's higher education system, especially in economics, said Fan Liming, president of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics at a seminar on China's educational reform held earlier this month.
"In this regard, the issue of how to improve the education and research of economics so as to be fit for China's further economic reforms needs to be addressed," Fan said.
Deans and presidents from more than 10 universities' finance and economics schools attended the event, and they discussed the next step for China's higher education reform, especially the orientation of education and economics.
Yuan Zhigang, dean of the school of economics at Fudan University, believes universities must be brought in line with international standards, but they also need to keep implementing reforms and must improve assessment systems as well.
"Economics, as a social science, cannot take off if it is divorced from history, social sciences or other disciplines. When getting in touch with the international track, higher-education institutions are obliged to select high quality economics research," Yuan said.
In recent years, more higher-education institutions have speeded up introducing overseas talents to boost research ability and improve on an international level.
"The economy of China and other developed countries are in a different development phase, and economics education is also in a different historical period. Since the research target is different, how to make those overseas talents to adapt to the new research environment when they come to China merits consideration," said Liang Qi, dean of the school of economics at Tianjin-based Nankai University.
"We not only hope China will produce high-quality research on China issues, but also hope international society will attach importance to the research of Chinese economics," said Bai Chongen, deputy dean of economics and management at Tsinghua University.
Tian Guoqiang said China's educators should set their sights higher, rather than achieve quick success.
"The overemphasis of the practical function of knowledge will make people ignore the mission of education to create knowledge and pursue excellence," Tian said.
China's reform of higher education will be an arduous journey. An important next step is to eliminate administrative intervention and make universities stick to teaching and knowledge innovation, Tian said.
