最缺大学的地方，要“翻身”了

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the strategic push for higher education reform in China, particularly focusing on the expansion of "Double First Class" universities and the allocation of educational resources towards populous provinces and the central and western regions of the country [4][5]. Group 1: Expansion of Higher Education - The upcoming "Double First Class" initiative will mark the third expansion since 2017 and 2022, with more universities expected to be included [5]. - The Ministry of Education aims to direct new higher education resources towards populous provinces and central and western regions, enhancing educational support mechanisms [5][21]. Group 2: Population and Education Resource Allocation - Provinces with larger populations naturally have a greater number of high school graduates, necessitating more higher education resources [7]. - China has 11 provinces with a permanent population exceeding 50 million, with Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, and Sichuan being the top five [8][9]. - Henan, as the province with the largest registered population, has over 1 million high school graduates annually, indicating significant educational pressure [11]. Group 3: Quality vs. Quantity of Higher Education - While the number of universities is increasing, the per capita availability of higher education institutions remains low, with only 2.1 universities per million people nationally, and even lower in Guangdong (1.3) and Henan (1.8) [18]. - The quality of universities is a concern, as many institutions in populous provinces like Henan are primarily vocational colleges, with only 62 undergraduate institutions compared to Jiangsu's 82 [20]. Group 4: Support for Central and Western Regions - The central and western regions of China, which account for a significant portion of the population, often lack sufficient educational resources and face a brain drain to the eastern regions [23]. - Among the 147 "Double First Class" universities, only 37.41% are located in the central and western regions, with an even lower percentage of "Double First Class" disciplines [24]. Group 5: Historical Context and Future Outlook - Historical factors have led to a concentration of prestigious universities in the eastern regions, while many central and western institutions struggle with talent retention [32]. - Recent initiatives have begun to address this imbalance, with a focus on resource allocation and support for universities in these regions [33]. - The article emphasizes the importance of building quality universities rather than merely increasing quantity, as the demographic trends indicate a peak in school-age populations approaching [35][36].