China will continue to advance high-standard opening-up in the education sector throughout the 15th Five-Year Plan period, a senior education official announced on September 23 at a press conference hosted by the State Council Information Office (SCIO).
The event was part of the official press series themed "Getting the 15th Five-Year Plan Off to a Good Start". Guo Peng, Director-General of the Department of Development and Planning at the Ministry of Education, noted that China’s global influence in education has grown steadily in recent years, and the country will further open its education system at a high level over the coming five-year period.
Bringing in premium global education resources
First, China will step up efforts to bring in high-quality global education resources to strengthen the appeal of its talent cultivation system.
In-depth youth exchanges between China and other countries have been carried out extensively, with the "50,000 Youth Exchanges in Five Years" initiative successfully concluded two and a half years ahead of schedule. In the 2024–2025 academic year, 380,000 international students from 191 countries and regions studied and participated in exchange programs across China.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the country will continue to build the "Study in China" brand and upgrade its supporting capabilities, aiming to become a preferred destination for outstanding young people worldwide. It will encourage top-tier foreign universities specializing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to launch Sino-foreign cooperative education programs in China, and develop more flagship cultural exchange initiatives. Young people from all countries will be invited to gain a true, multi-dimensional and holistic understanding of China, so as to solidify the foundation of people-to-people bonds.
Going global with Chinese education solutions
Second, China will expand overseas cooperation channels to contribute Chinese wisdom and experience to global education development.
In recent years, the Ministry of Education has proactively shared China's practices and insights on education development with the rest of the world. Signature programs including Luban Workshops, Overseas Institutes of Excellence in Engineering, Science and Technology Backyards, and Chinese Language Workshops have been widely welcomed by partner countries. To date, 92 countries have integrated Chinese language into their national education systems.
For the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will continue to refine its full-chain service system for overseas study to support Chinese students pursuing education abroad. In fields including vocational education, basic education, engineering education, AI-integrated education and teacher development, a series of Chinese standards and solutions will be rolled out. The country will also expand the coverage and beneficiary scope of cooperation, to ensure knowledge and technology are effectively translated into local development capacity.
Building platforms for global research and governance
Third, China will develop diversified cooperation platforms to deepen educational and scientific research collaboration and boost its participation in global education governance.
Domestic universities are supported to initiate and join international big science programs, co-establish international joint laboratories, and launch world-class scientific and technological journals, as part of joint efforts to tackle common challenges facing humanity. China will deepen cooperation with international organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and within multilateral frameworks including BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). It will further enhance its contribution to priority areas such as education for girls and women, digital-intelligent education and STEM education.
Source: CCTV News