The 2018 annual conference of the China University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Alliance was held in Xi’an. Photo: FILE

XI’AN—Innovation and entrepreneurship education is an integral part of China’s strategy for becoming an innovation powerhouse. To cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship, colleges should be innovative with their education models and create an international and open environment for talent cultivation. On Dec. 22, the 2018 annual conference of the China University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Alliance was hosted by Xi’an Jiaotong University and the Xi’an Municipal Government. More than 2,000 people attended the meeting, including business representatives, experts and scholars from more than 500 colleges.

Wang Shuguo, president of Xi’an Jiaotong University, said that “a new world economic order is being established and China is at a crucial stage as it becomes a global leading economy. Under these circumstances, tertiary education in China needs to respond accordingly.” According to Wang, the objective of tertiary education is to cultivate talent who are innovative and have entrepreneurial spirit. We need to promote and deepen the current reform of innovation and entrepreneurship education. How can we fulfill the two centenary goals and realize the Chinese dream? How can we orient talent cultivation toward national economic development and contribute wisdom? These are questions to be answered by tertiary education in China today.

Qiu Yong, chairman of the China University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Alliance and president of Tsinghua University, said that the alliance has expanded and now includes 186 universities and 60 innovative enterprises, institutions and social organizations. Its objective is to provide society with more innovation and entrepreneurship education resources through the combined efforts of colleges and all walks of life. According to Qiu, talent is at the core of innovation. Cultivating innovative and entrepreneurial talent requires the joint effort of the government, colleges, enterprises and other sectors of society.

To promote talent cultivation, the alliance held the first Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in 2018. On the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping called on the Chinese people to create more miracles. Echoing President Xi’s call, the alliance is determined to achieve great things in innovation and entrepreneurship education.

​(edited by YANG LANLAN)