Core Viewpoint - The Jiangsu Provincial Education Department has announced a plan to optimize and adjust the discipline and major settings in higher education institutions, aiming for significant improvements by 2027 and full coverage by 2030 to support economic and social development [1][2]. Group 1: Implementation Actions - The plan includes four main actions: rapid layout of urgently needed disciplines, enhancement of discipline classification development, updating talent cultivation models, and deepening reform of discipline development mechanisms [2]. - A list of urgently needed disciplines will be published, and a mechanism for their extraordinary setup will be established to align with local industry needs [2]. - The plan aims to create a multi-dimensional evaluation system for disciplines and establish a warning and exit mechanism for underperforming programs [2]. Group 2: Industry Alignment - Jiangsu universities will focus on aligning academic disciplines with national strategic needs and local industrial innovation, particularly in fields like integrated circuits and low-altitude technology [3]. - Nanjing University is actively expanding its degree offerings in emerging interdisciplinary fields and establishing research centers to support innovation [3][4]. - Suzhou University has added six urgently needed majors in artificial intelligence over the past five years and is implementing a plan to create interdisciplinary innovation centers [4]. Group 3: Vocational Education - The plan also addresses vocational colleges, emphasizing the need for coordinated development across graduate, undergraduate, and vocational programs [5]. - Yangzhou Industrial Vocational Technical College has introduced 12 new majors in response to industry needs while discontinuing eight others, focusing on creating a responsive professional system [5].

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]