China's "AI + Education" Action Plan Signals a New Era for University Innovation
China's Ministry of Education, alongside the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, and National Data Administration, has unveiled the groundbreaking "Artificial Intelligence + Education" Action Plan. This comprehensive strategy, released in early April 2026, aims to weave artificial intelligence deeply into the fabric of higher education, positioning Chinese universities at the forefront of global AI talent development. By mandating AI as a core competency across all disciplines, the plan addresses the surging demand for skilled professionals in an AI-driven economy, where China already boasts over 600,000 students enrolled in AI-related programs across nearly 2,000 authorization points.
The initiative responds to national priorities outlined in the Education Powerhouse Construction Plan (2024-2035) and the State Council's "AI +" Action Opinion. It promises systemic reforms in teaching, research, and governance, fostering a generation of innovators equipped with critical thinking, interdisciplinary skills, and ethical AI awareness. For universities, this translates to mandatory AI foundational courses, interdisciplinary majors, and integration into employment enhancement programs, ensuring graduates thrive in intelligent industries.
Core Components Tailored for Higher Education Institutions
At the heart of the plan for colleges and universities is the elevation of AI to a public foundational course. Every student, regardless of major, will gain proficiency through discipline-specific textbooks and 'short, practical, innovative' frontier modules. Traditional programs in engineering, medicine, humanities, and sciences will incorporate AI modules, creating hybrid curricula that blend domain expertise with intelligent tools.
New majors aligned with emerging sectors like smart manufacturing and digital health will proliferate, while vocational universities update skill pathways with 'AI +' frameworks. The plan emphasizes composite talent—professionals who can navigate AI's rapid evolution—through cross-disciplinary clusters and industry collaborations. High-caliber research universities, tech giants, and labs will pioneer elite training models, blending academia, enterprise, and labs.
Inclusion in the 'Double Thousand' student employability initiative means AI micro-credentials and specialized tracks for key demographics, boosting job readiness amid projections of millions of AI jobs by 2030.
Timeline and Milestones: From Rollout to 2030 Transformation
The action plan sets ambitious yet phased targets. Short-term efforts focus on curriculum rollout and pilot expansions, with AI education compulsory nationwide by late 2026. By 2027, universities must deliver baseline AI literacy, supported by national platforms.
- 2026-2027: Integrate AI into all university public courses; launch 18 pilot universities for full AI-empowered education; build national intelligent computing services.
- 2028-2030: Achieve deep fusion, with AI reshaping teaching paradigms, research clusters, and governance; scale high-value applications; elevate global influence.
Progress will be monitored via data-driven oversight, ensuring equitable access even in rural institutions.
Tsinghua University: Leading the AI Open Alliance Charge
Tsinghua University, council president of the AI Open Alliance—comprising 17 elite universities and 8 enterprises—exemplifies proactive implementation. Over 440 courses now leverage AI for 24/7 tutoring via the 'Qing Xiao Ta' ecosystem of 415 intelligent agents, aiding interdisciplinary learning.
The Wuqiong Academy, launched in 2025, trains 'AI natives' with foundational years followed by 'AI +' specialization. Tsinghua's guidelines stress ethical boundaries and tech sovereignty, fostering a 'Qing Zhi Yuan' community for computing access. Alliance efforts include corpus libraries (Peking U-led) and computing platforms (Beijing Post & Telecom U), driving standards like the 'Mexico City Declaration' for smart MOOCs.
These initiatives position Tsinghua as a hub for breakthroughs, from ethics guidelines to international summits. Explore Tsinghua's alliance details.
Fudan University: Forging 'Stem Cell-Like' AI Innovators
Fudan University showcases cross-disciplinary prowess with 100+ AI courses serving 13,000+ students. Its 41 'X + AI' dual bachelor's and pioneering 'discipline PhD + AI master's' (10 inaugural journalism/comms students) embody integrated training.
The Star River Qi Zhi platform aggregates 400+ science models; 150 'AI + co-creation' projects advance teaching. Fudan recruits 45 top AI talents, emphasizing 'research-creation-learning' with enterprise mentors. Core literacies—posing great questions, cross-boundary creation, continuous evolution—define its 'stem cell' talent model.
Future plans include future classrooms, teachers, and centers, radiating nationwide via Shanghai's Chuang Zhi College. Fudan's blueprint in official transcript.
Photo by Joseph Chan on Unsplash
Expanding Pilots and Nationwide University Momentum
Eighteen universities anchor AI-empowering pilots, from Beihang's interactive platforms to Beiliang's knowledge graphs. Earlier 'AI + Higher Ed' cases highlight Peking U's dental sim labs and Harbin IT's autonomous learning.
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong pilots inform scaling, with alliances tackling corpus, models, and ethics. Vocational colleges adapt via skill clusters; open universities offer lifelong AI paths via credit banks.
Empowering Faculty: Training and Certification Overhaul
Universities must embed AI in teacher quals exams and certs; awards now feature smart education. Full-cycle training—pre/in-service—builds intelligent faculties. Tsinghua/Fudan models inspire, with alliances providing tools for ethical, innovative teaching.
Infrastructure Backbone: Platforms and Ecosystems
National intelligent computing platforms aggregate power/data/models; phased AI ed large models avoid duplication. 'Qi Wu' communities and mid-trial bases foster apps; future spaces like smart classrooms proliferate.
Talent Pipeline: From Campus to Intelligent Economy
Projections: AI talent to fuel industries, with supply-demand platforms predicting needs. 'Double Thousand' integrates AI for jobs; micro-certs enhance resumes. Graduates gain edges in smart sectors, per industry alignments.
Navigating Challenges: Ethics, Equity, and Safeguards
Risks like bias, privacy prompt standards, audits, ethics guidelines. Plan mandates value alignment, preventing inequities; rural focus ensures access. Alliances enforce campus product norms against fraud/academic cheats.
Photo by Road Ahead on Unsplash
Global Reach: Cooperation and Influence
Alliances push standards via UNESCO, summits; World Digital Ed Conference spotlights China. MOOCs, ethics guides export models, boosting soft power.
Outlook: Universities Shaping AI-Powered Future
By 2030, expect transformed paradigms: AI co-teaching, predictive research, personalized governance. China's universities, via this plan, cultivate leaders for global AI leadership, blending tech with humanity.
For opportunities, explore roles in AI ed innovation.
