Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the need for higher education reform in China, particularly in the context of the fourth industrial revolution, advocating for a direct dialogue between universities and society to cultivate innovative talent [1]. Group 1: Higher Education Reform - Universities must break free from traditional, discipline-specific confines and engage directly with societal needs to foster innovation [1]. - The integration of traditional industries and emerging technologies has heightened the demand for innovative talent, particularly in a manufacturing powerhouse with approximately 4 million engineering graduates [1][9]. Group 2: Establishment of Research Institutes - Multiple universities are accelerating the establishment of research institutes as platforms for interdisciplinary research and technology transfer [2]. - Shanghai Jiao Tong University has launched the Low Altitude Science and Technology Research Institute, focusing on a collaborative innovation incubation plan that integrates industry, innovation, and talent [2]. - Xi'an Jiaotong University has established over 20 research institutes within the China West Science and Technology Innovation Port, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and industry integration [3][7]. Group 3: Industry-Academia Collaboration - The establishment of specialized classes, such as the Huawei Experimental Class at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, exemplifies the collaboration between universities and enterprises to cultivate talent [10]. - The partnership between Shenzhen University and Tencent in creating the AI (Teng Class) aims to develop students' capabilities in AI engineering and application innovation [10]. - The Ministry of Education's guidelines indicate a projected talent gap of nearly 30 million in key manufacturing sectors by 2025, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced talent supply [9]. Group 4: Professional Degree Education - The development of professional degree graduate education is a strategic focus, aiming to cultivate high-level application-oriented talents with strong professional skills [11][13]. - Collaboration between educational institutions and industries is essential for formulating training programs and enhancing the quality of professional degree education [13].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint emphasizes that universities must break away from traditional, discipline-focused approaches and engage directly with society to reform higher education in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution [1] - There is an increasing demand for innovative talent due to the integration of traditional industries and emerging technologies, particularly in a manufacturing country with approximately 4 million engineering graduates [1] - Higher education institutions are establishing research institutes as a means to facilitate interdisciplinary research and technology transfer [2] Group 2 - The Shanghai Jiao Tong University Low Altitude Science and Technology Research Institute has launched a collaborative innovation incubation plan focusing on the integration of industry, innovation, and talent [2] - Beijing University of Science and Technology has also established several interdisciplinary research centers aimed at cultivating innovative talent in fields such as nanotechnology and sustainable energy [2] - Xi'an Jiaotong University has created over 30 research institutes and 400 research bases to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and industry-education integration [9] Group 3 - The Ministry of Education's guidelines indicate a projected talent gap of nearly 30 million in key manufacturing sectors by 2025, highlighting the need for high-quality engineering talent [10] - There are structural issues in the education system, such as a decline in engineering student enrollment and a mismatch between knowledge structure and job requirements [10] - Collaborative programs between universities and companies, such as Huawei's experimental class at Nanjing University, are emerging as a solution to enhance talent development [11] Group 4 - The development of professional degree graduate education is a strategic focus for reforming higher education, aiming to cultivate high-level application-oriented professionals [13] - There is a need for better communication and collaboration between academia and industry to ensure that educational outcomes align with industry needs [13] - Joint training programs, like the one between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Baowu Steel Group, are being implemented to enhance practical learning experiences for students [14]