Xi urges universities to help drive China’s tech and innovation ambitions

President Xi Jinping has urged major universities, such as Sichuan University, to leverage their interdisciplinary strengths in the humanities, sciences, engineering, and medicine to bolster China's national strategy for technological advancement. Xi's congratulatory letter, released on Tuesday to mark the institution's 130th anniversary, emphasized the university's role in advancing the country's push for innovation in education, science, technology, and talent development.

Beijing is stepping up efforts to position universities as pivotal pillars of innovation, with guidelines released earlier this month urging institutions to develop distinct roles aligned with national priorities. Research universities are expected to serve as a "key force" supporting major national strategies, while industry-specific institutions should enhance their capacity to serve the real economy.

Additionally, a five-year education development plan released by China's State Council in June highlighted the need for universities to adapt to technological and industrial transformation by strengthening innovation capabilities and cultivating home-grown talent through greater interdisciplinary collaboration. This shift towards greater interdisciplinarity is prompting traditional universities to broaden their offerings, as evidenced by the University of International Business and Economics, well-known for its business and economics programs, introducing micro-majors in artificial intelligence, data science, and digital humanities.