Education and Technology Drive the Nation - Term Explanation

Author: Chief Editor: Wang Shixiong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1997-12-01
Features: Synopsis This book is another reference tool compiled by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology after the "Dictionary of Sustainable Development Terminology," serving as a companion to that work. The book is divided into seven parts: General Introduction; Policies and Strategies; Actions and Plans; Management and Decision-Making; Science and Technology; Education; Economic and Social Development, containing over 600 entries. Appendices include introductions to National High-Tech Industrial Development Zones, major methods for measuring scientific and technological progress, and science and education indicators. The book comprehensively introduces knowledge related to implementing the "Science and Education Revitalize China" strategy, covering concepts, policies, strategies, plans and actions, and events. It is intended for reference by cadres at all levels, managers, scientists, educators, and university students. Excerpt: "Decision of the State Council on Deepening the Reform of the Science and Technology System During the Ninth Five-Year Plan Period" (October 4, 1996, People's Daily) The "Decision" was formulated in line with the spirit of "deepening the reform of the science and technology system" outlined in the "Decision of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Accelerating the Advancement of Science and Technology" in 1995. The "Decision" states that the main goal of deepening the reform of the science and technology system during the Ninth Five-Year Plan period is to fully implement the idea that "science and technology are productive forces," further ensuring that economic development relies on science and technology, science and technology work must be oriented toward economic construction, and efforts must be made to reach new heights in science and technology. The main tasks of deepening the reform are: (1) Promoting research institutions to focus on the main battlefield of economic construction. Research institutions should adjust their professional structures to contribute to transforming traditional industries, improving product quality, developing national industries, enhancing international competitiveness, and strengthening comprehensive national strength. To accelerate the modernization of agriculture, it is necessary to strengthen the agricultural research and development system and technology extension service system. Large and medium-sized state-owned enterprises should regard establishing an enterprise innovation mechanism and improving innovation capabilities as an important part of establishing a modern enterprise system. (2) Developing high technology and promoting the industrialization of high technologies. A selection of major projects with significant driving effects on national economic development, certain foundations and advantages, and the ability to enhance China's comprehensive national strength should be chosen. Competitive bidding should be adopted to organize and promote research institutions, universities, and enterprises to concentrate their efforts and jointly tackle these projects. (3) Optimizing the structure and layout of basic research institutions. (4) Implementing open management and socialized services for qualified public welfare research institutions. The "Decision" proposes six measures for deepening the reform: (1) Implement scientific management; (2) Promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements; (3) Enhance innovation capabilities; (4) Establish a talent evaluation and training mechanism that fully utilizes talents and allows outstanding individuals to emerge; (5) Further reform the income distribution system for science and technology personnel; (6) Adhere to opening up to the outside world and actively participate in international exchanges and cooperation. The "Decision" also sets clear requirements for financial guarantees and deepening the reform of national defense science and technology. "Outline for Reform and Development of China's Education" (February 13, 1993, issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council) The "Outline" was formulated to achieve the strategic tasks set by the 14th National Congress of the Party, guide the reform and development of education in the 1990s and early 21st century, and better serve the socialist modernization drive. The main contents of the "Outline" are: (1) The situation and tasks facing education. In the new situation, the main task of educational work is to fully implement the educational policy, face modernization, the world, and the future, accelerate the reform and development of education, further improve the quality of laborers, and train a large number of talents. It aims to establish an educational system that adapts to the socialist market economy system, political system, and science and technology reform, better serving the socialist modernization drive. (2) Development goals, strategies, and guiding principles for the education sector. By the end of this century, the overall goal of educational development is: a significant improvement in the level of education for the entire population; substantial development of pre-job and post-job education for laborers; a basic satisfaction of the demand for specialized talents for modernization construction; and the formation of a socialist education system with Chinese characteristics, oriented toward the 21st century. Specific development goals and policies are proposed for all levels and types of education. (3) Education system reform. In the 1990s, the reform should adopt a comprehensive and coordinated, step-by-step approach to preliminarily establish a new educational system that adapts to the socialist market economy system, political system, and science and technology reform. The content of the reform includes: reforming the school-running system; deepening the reform of the education system for secondary and lower education, continuing to improve a tiered school-running and management system; deepening the reform of higher education; reforming the enrollment and employment system for university graduates; improving the postgraduate training and degree system; reforming the financial allocation mechanism for universities; accelerating the reform of the enrollment and employment system for secondary vocational and technical schools; internal management system reform of schools; deepening the reform of personnel and labor systems, coordinated with the reform of the education system; accelerating the development of education law, gradually moving toward the rule of law in education; strengthening theoretical research and experiments in educational reform and development. (4) Fully implement the educational policy and comprehensively improve the quality of education. The fundamental purpose of educational reform and development is to improve the quality of the nation's population, train more and better talents, and strive to elevate the quality of education to a new level in the 1990s. (5) Teacher team building. Building a stable teacher team with good political and professional qualities, a reasonable structure, and relative stability is a fundamental task for the reform and development of education. (6) Reform and improve the education investment system and increase education funding. Increasing education funding is the fundamental measure to implement the educational strategy. Jiang Zemin's discussion on implementing the "Science and Education Revitalize China" strategy and the sustainable development strategy in his report to the 15th National Congress of the Party (September 12, 1997) In his report to the 15th National Congress of the Party, Jiang Zemin made a special discussion on implementing the "Science and Education Revitalize China" strategy and the sustainable development strategy. Jiang Zemin pointed out that science and technology are productive forces, and scientific and technological progress is the decisive factor in economic development. It is necessary to fully estimate the future impact of science and technology, especially high technology, on comprehensive national strength, the social and economic structure, and people's lives. It is essential to shift the economic construction to a track that relies on scientific and technological progress and improves the quality of laborers. Postscript: Implementing the "Science and Education Revitalize China" strategy is a strategic decision to fully implement the idea that "science and technology are productive forces" and an important part of Deng Xiaoping Theory. Adhering to education as the foundation and placing education in a key position in economic and social development, improving the scientific and cultural quality of the entire nation, and advancing the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century are a great cause for which the entire Party and the people have been striving for a long time. To support the study and implementation of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the spirit of the Central Committee on implementing the "Science and Education Revitalize China" strategy, we compiled this book based on extensive collection and reference of literature materials. If this book can help readers in their work and studies, we will be greatly pleased. This book is another reference tool compiled by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology after the publication of the "Dictionary of Sustainable Development Terminology." The content of this book has a different focus from the previous one and serves as a complement to it, which can be considered a "sister" to the "Dictionary of Sustainable Development Terminology." Therefore, entries collected in the previous book are generally not included in this one. Please note this. Due to the limited level of the compilers and the urgency of the time, any inaccuracies or errors are sincerely hoped to be pointed out. During the compilation process, we received strong support from the Beijing Science Research Center, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to them. Editors, December 1997