Is China on the path to global higher education leadership?

Since launching the Double First-Class initiative in 2015, China has seen remarkable progress in the quality of its higher education institutions and its international competitiveness. The initiative seeks to cultivate a select group of world-class universities and disciplines, raising the overall standard of China’s higher education system.

Many institutions participating in the programme have made notable strides in areas such as disciplinary development, talent cultivation, research innovation and global impact. Yet alongside these successes, there are critical challenges and areas that demand reflection and refinement to ensure sustained progress when it comes to reforming the higher education system.

Key achievements of the ‘Double First-Class’ initiative

Since the initiative’s inception, certain Chinese universities and disciplines have entered the world’s top ranks, showcasing both progress and ambition in Chinese higher education. Key accomplishments include:

• Improved research innovation: Chinese universities have achieved significant breakthroughs which have been recognised globally across both basic and applied research. For instance, research teams from Peking University and Tsinghua University have made pioneering discoveries, such as the quantum anomalous Hall effect, which has broad implications for fundamental science.

Major advancements in fields like manned space exploration, lunar and Mars missions and deep-sea research highlight China’s increasing research prowess, placing disciplines like materials science and chemical engineering at the forefront of technological progress.

• Strengthened talent development: According to China’s Ministry of Education, participating universities train over 90% of the country’s high-level professionals in critical fields, and award over 50% of China’s masters degrees and 80% of its PhDs.

Initiatives such as the Strengthening Foundation Plan have bolstered students’ innovative capabilities and overall skills, meeting the demand for high quality talent domestically and contributing top researchers to the global academic community.

• Expanded international influence: Chinese universities play an increasingly active and leading role in global scientific collaboration and educational exchanges.

By leading projects such as the Deep-Time Digital Earth and Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions programmes, Chinese universities showcase China’s growing contributions to science and academia. Through international partnerships, they have steadily enhanced their global academic reputation, improving both their international rankings and recognition.

• Diverse and stable funding mechanisms: Since 2016, the central and local governments have allocated over CNY166.7 billion (US$23 billion) to participating institutions, helping them expand infrastructure and acquire cutting-edge research equipment. This investment has empowered universities to advance in research and discipline building while enhancing the country’s overall research environment.

• Thriving Chinese social sciences and humanities: Under the Double First-Class initiative, the humanities and social sciences in China have made significant advances.

Numerous universities have developed distinguished programmes in fields such as Marxist studies and Chinese philosophy, contributing to influential works like The Confucian Canon and groundbreaking research on the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips, ancient texts from the Warring States period that offer insights into early Chinese thought and culture.

These initiatives highlight the unique strengths and cultural contributions of China’s social sciences, emphasising the depth and diversity of its academic achievements in preserving and interpreting both traditional and modern ideologies.

Persistent challenges to the model

While the initiative has brought impressive achievements, it also faces several critical challenges which could impact its long-term sustainability:

• Evaluation systems overemphasise short-term results: Current assessment metrics focus on quantitative indicators, such as publication and citation counts, which may push institutions toward immediate results over foundational or long-term innovation. Some universities, for example, prioritise projects with rapid impact over supporting fundamental research or interdisciplinary initiatives.

• Limited interdisciplinary integration: Despite the establishment of interdisciplinary research centres, rigid disciplinary divisions and entrenched administrative structures still hinder broader collaboration.

Effectively addressing complex global and national challenges demands interdisciplinary research, which requires institutional reform to bridge gaps and encourage cooperative innovation across disciplines.

• Challenges in translating research into applications: Despite enhanced research output, the application and commercialisation of scientific findings remain limited. Collaborative mechanisms among universities, industry and government are still underdeveloped, slowing the marketisation and industrialisation of research outcomes.

Creating robust channels for technology transfer and intellectual property protection is essential for universities to contribute more effectively to society and the economy.

• Limited international attractiveness: Although the global reputation of Chinese universities has risen, challenges persist in attracting top international talent.

Chinese institutions still lag behind Western counterparts in areas such as research environment, academic freedom and support for scholars. Attracting and retaining world-class global talent is a core issue in enhancing the competitiveness of Double First-Class institutions.

• Inefficient resource allocation: Although funding mechanisms are becoming more diversified, resource allocation and management efficiency remain issues. Some institutions need to streamline internal governance to ensure resources are focused on strategically significant disciplines and fields. Better governance will maximise the impact of research and teaching resources.

Pathways for sustained reform and progress

Ensuring the sustainable development of the Double First-Class initiative requires targeted improvements.

Firstly, there needs to be a shift towards long-term evaluations. Current metrics should gradually evolve to emphasise long-term impact, balancing quantitative and qualitative assessments. Adopting evaluation frameworks that consider the broader societal and policy influence of research will enhance the initiative’s focus on social impact and sustainability.

There is also a need to foster interdisciplinary and collaborative research. Encouraging institutional reforms to facilitate cross-disciplinary partnerships will address complex societal challenges more effectively. By directing resources and policy incentives to support integration across sciences and humanities, universities can break traditional boundaries and develop innovative solutions.

Furthermore, research translation mechanisms need to be enhanced. Strengthening collaborations with industry and government will help accelerate the translation of research into practical applications. Leveraging national science parks and technology transfer institutions can bridge academia and industry, promoting deeper integration of research, education and economic development.

Other important improvements relate to elevating international cooperation. Expanding partnerships with top global institutions and active engagement in international research networks will boost Chinese universities’ global presence. By attracting foreign scholars and faculty, Chinese institutions can foster a more international research environment, strengthening their role in global academic governance.

Another recommendation is for technological and humanistic education to be integrated. In parallel with advancing technology education, humanistic education should be integrated into curricula to cultivate well-rounded talent with a global outlook and social responsibility. Combining these elements equips students with both critical thinking and innovative skills, meeting national and societal needs.

Finally, universities need to optimise their governance and resource management. Improved governance practices and resource allocation will help universities focus on high priority fields, enhancing transparency and efficiency. By exploring new management models, universities can inspire greater innovation among faculty and students, fostering productive synergies in teaching and research.

The road to global leadership

The Double First-Class initiative is transforming China’s higher education system, with far-reaching implications for global competition. To sustain momentum, Chinese universities must move beyond short-term academic output and prioritise long-term growth in research innovation, talent development and international partnerships.

Through comprehensive reform in evaluation, interdisciplinary collaboration, research translation, internationalisation and governance, China’s universities can emerge as leading institutions in global academia, supporting the nation’s vision to become a world leader in education.

Futao Huang is vice director and professor in the Research Institute for Higher Education at Hiroshima University in Japan.

This article is a commentary. Commentary articles are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of University World News.