Core Insights - The article discusses the significant restructuring of undergraduate programs in Chinese universities, driven by the need to align educational offerings with market demands and national strategies [1][2][3]. Group 1: New Programs and Trends - A total of 6,638 undergraduate programs have been canceled or suspended, while 3,715 new programs have been introduced in the past two years [1]. - New programs are primarily focused on three areas: aligning with national strategies, promoting emerging industries, and serving regional development needs [2][3]. Group 2: Low Altitude Technology and Engineering - The "Low Altitude Technology and Engineering" program is designed to support the development of the low-altitude economy, responding to national policies that emphasize the growth of general aviation [3][4]. - Six universities, including Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, have launched this program, which aims to produce skilled professionals across various sectors of the low-altitude economy [3][5]. Group 3: Interdisciplinary and Emerging Fields - New interdisciplinary programs, such as "Carbon Neutrality Science and Engineering" and "New Energy Materials and Devices," are being established to address complex challenges in emerging industries [7][9]. - These programs emphasize the integration of multiple disciplines, including engineering, social sciences, and information technology, to cultivate versatile talent capable of tackling modern industry demands [7][8]. Group 4: Regional Development and Institutional Adaptation - Some universities are restructuring existing programs and establishing new colleges to better align with national and regional strategic needs, such as the establishment of new colleges focused on renewable energy and artificial intelligence [10][11]. - The Tian Shu Academy, launched by Beijing Information Science and Technology University, aims to optimize educational resources and support regional industrial development through a flexible curriculum and strong industry partnerships [12]. Group 5: Student Experience and Practical Training - New students in these programs are engaging in hands-on projects and interdisciplinary courses, enhancing their practical skills and readiness for real-world challenges [13][14]. - Institutions are implementing innovative teaching methods, such as project-based learning and industry collaboration, to foster a deeper understanding of complex subjects and improve students' problem-solving abilities [14][15].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the expansion of high-quality undergraduate education in China, driven by government initiatives to increase enrollment in "double first-class" universities and align educational offerings with national strategic needs [2][3][4]. Group 1: Expansion of Quality Undergraduate Education - The Chinese government plans to continue expanding the scale of quality undergraduate education, with a target to increase enrollment by an additional 20,000 students this year, following last year's increase of 16,000 [2][3]. - Major universities, including Tsinghua, Peking University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, have announced plans to expand their undergraduate enrollment by 150 students each this year [3]. Group 2: Focus on Strategic Fields - The expansion of undergraduate programs will focus on areas critical to national strategic needs, such as artificial intelligence, integrated circuits, and biomedicine, among others [4][5]. - New research-oriented universities are emerging, attracting high-scoring students and competing with established 985 universities in terms of admission scores [4]. Group 3: Curriculum and Program Optimization - The Ministry of Education has issued guidelines to optimize undergraduate program offerings, emphasizing the need to align with national strategies and market demands [5][6]. - Institutions are encouraged to develop new interdisciplinary programs and enhance existing ones to better meet the needs of emerging industries and societal demands [5][6]. Group 4: Infrastructure Development - Several "double first-class" universities are establishing new campuses to accommodate the growing number of students and to focus on emerging interdisciplinary fields [6]. - For instance, Huazhong Normal University is developing a new campus that will concentrate on key areas such as artificial intelligence and integrated circuits, aiming to cultivate top-tier innovative talent [6].

Core Points - The Jiangsu Provincial Education Department has launched an implementation plan for optimizing the adjustment of academic disciplines and majors in higher education institutions, aiming to align with national and regional economic needs by 2027 [1][2] - The plan includes a target that over 85% of newly added academic programs will be in urgent need fields, with more than 60% in science, engineering, agriculture, and medicine [1][2] - By 2030, the academic discipline layout is expected to be fully optimized to cover 100% of the disciplines required by Jiangsu's "1650" industrial system, supporting the development of a strong economy, education, and talent [1][2] Action Plans - Four key actions will be implemented: 1. Rapid layout of urgently needed academic disciplines, including the publication of a list of urgent disciplines and mechanisms for their establishment [2] 2. Excellence enhancement in discipline classification development, launching various plans for top disciplines, foundational disciplines, emerging disciplines, and cultural heritage disciplines [2] 3. Updating talent cultivation models for academic disciplines, establishing specialized colleges focused on future technology and industry needs [2] 4. Deepening reform mechanisms for academic discipline development, including innovative talent cultivation systems and multi-dimensional evaluation mechanisms [2] Institutional Responses - Nanjing University is focusing on adding new degree programs in emerging interdisciplinary fields and establishing research institutes to enhance its academic offerings [3] - Suzhou University has introduced six urgent programs in artificial intelligence over the past five years and is implementing a plan to create interdisciplinary innovation centers [3] - The plan also addresses vocational colleges, emphasizing the need for a coordinated development mechanism across different educational levels and the establishment of urgently needed programs [4]

Core Insights - The core viewpoint emphasizes the need for higher education to adapt to the digital age by shifting from traditional knowledge transmission to capability development, and from a single disciplinary focus to interdisciplinary approaches [1][2] Group 1: Transformations in Education - The "four transformations" in talent cultivation mentioned are: shifting from "knowledge transmission" to "ability shaping," moving from a single style to interdisciplinary information, transitioning from teacher-led instruction to self-exploration, and changing from a score-centric evaluation to a multi-faceted assessment [1] - Traditional educational structures and assessment methods are deemed inadequate for current demands and developments [1] Group 2: Initiatives by Wuhan University - Wuhan University has introduced 15 new "Digital+" interdisciplinary majors and established 30 "Digital+" experimental classes [1] - The university offers a general education course titled "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence" and 16 core courses related to data science, integrating data science elements into various academic programs [1] - The university has established several research institutes focusing on emerging interdisciplinary fields, including the Wuhan Institute of Mathematics and Intelligence, the Institute of Frontier Interdisciplinary Studies, and the College of Artificial Intelligence [1] Group 3: Future Academic Programs - In 2025, Wuhan University plans to add new majors such as Robotics Engineering, Digital Economy, Smart City and Spatial Planning, Smart Energy Engineering, and Spatiotemporal Information Engineering [2] - The university is also promoting dual bachelor's degree experimental classes in low-altitude economy and developing micro-specialties in areas like artificial intelligence and cultural digitization to meet national strategic needs [2]