Multiple Chinese Universities Convene Meetings to Establish and Practice the Correct View of Political Achievements

Nationwide Campaign Takes Root in Chinese Higher Education

In early March 2026, universities across China rapidly mobilized to implement a significant Communist Party of China (CPC) initiative: the study and education campaign on establishing and practicing the correct view of political achievements, known in Chinese as '树立和践行正确政绩观学习教育'. This effort, directed by the CPC Central Committee, targets leading cadres at county level and above, with a special emphasis on top university administrators, to align decision-making with long-term national goals during the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. 48 73

The campaign underscores a shift from short-term, flashy accomplishments toward sustainable, people-centered outcomes. In higher education, this translates to prioritizing student development, groundbreaking research, and institutional reforms that withstand the test of time, history, and public approval.

Xi Jinping's Enduring Emphasis on Correct Political Achievements

President Xi Jinping has long championed this philosophy, compiling 253 excerpts from over 150 documents into the authoritative text <i>Xi Jinping on Establishing and Practicing the Correct View of Political Achievements: Excerpts</i>, published nationwide on February 24, 2026, by the Central Literature Publishing House. 70 Organized into seven thematic chapters, the book distills Xi's views that Communist Party members create achievements solely to benefit the people, rejecting formalism and emphasizing scientific governance and diligent execution.

For university leaders, this means reorienting from superficial metrics—like inflated publication counts or hasty infrastructure projects—to fostering genuine innovation and educator excellence. Xi's guidance, rooted in his local governance experiences, serves as the campaign's ideological core, urging cadres to ask: 'For whom are achievements created? What kind? How?'

Core Principles: Serving the Public Through Solid Work

The campaign's overarching requirement is '立党为公、为民造福、科学决策、真抓实干'—establishing the party for public service, benefiting the people, making scientific decisions, and pursuing solid, practical work. Universities are interpreting this through tailored implementations: party secretaries lead by example, integrating it with campus realities like talent cultivation and technological self-reliance. 73

• Public Service (立党为公): Aligning university missions with national rejuvenation.
• Benefiting People (为民造福): Addressing faculty, staff, and student needs, such as improved facilities and mental health support.
• Scientific Decisions (科学决策): Data-driven reforms in curriculum and research funding.
• Solid Work (真抓实干): Combating bureaucracy with measurable, long-term outcomes.

This framework ensures higher education contributes to Chinese-style modernization without deviation.

Tsinghua University Sets the Pace with Swift Deployment

Tsinghua University, China's premier institution, exemplifies rapid response. On February 28 and March 2, 2026, its Party Committee held standing committee and plenary meetings, approving an implementation plan. By March 15, all 61 institute-level units and 1,586 faculty-student branches had completed initial arrangements, producing three issues of specialized learning materials. 73 51

Secretary Qiu Yong stressed raising political awareness, recognizing deviations in cadre performance views, and upholding Tsinghua's traditions of innovation and responsibility. Activities include cadre-led learning, joint faculty-student sessions, and problem checklists for leadership teams—'one team, one list; one cadre, one list.'

Photo by Quan Jing on Unsplash

Peking University Integrates Theory with Campus Action

At Peking University (PKU), the Party Theory Study Center Group conducted its second thematic session on March 13, 2026, delving into Xi's excerpts. Economic College and History Department held startup deployments, with Secretary He Guangcai and President Gong Qihuang leading mid-level cadre assemblies on February 26. 61

PKU emphasizes 'know-action unity,' linking the campaign to anti-corruption, '15th FYP' planning, and youth cadre training. Base construction departments organized life meetings, blending Two Sessions spirit study for holistic ideological fortification.

Regional Momentum: Henan and Shanghai Lead Local Efforts

Henan Province saw over a dozen universities, including Zhengzhou Normal College and Henan Institute of Technology, convene Party-wide meetings by March 6-11, interpreting central directives provincially. 9 Shanghai Tech University (March 11) tied it to high-quality development, with Secretary Li Runxin mandating first-responsibility execution. Sun Yat-sen University hosted a cadre lecture hall with Professor Tong Jianjun's report on Xi's expositions, focusing on three prongs: elevating stance, holistic advancement, and robust leadership. 72

These efforts highlight decentralized yet unified rollout, adapting to regional strengths like Guangdong's Greater Bay Area focus.

Diverse Learning Formats Foster Deep Engagement

Methods vary innovatively: Huazhong University of Science and Technology mines archives for historical cases; Harbin Institute of Technology builds course libraries and廉洁 bases; Tianjin University forms 'silver hair' retiree preaching teams for intergenerational learning. 73 Reading classes, propaganda columns, and youth vanguard squads ensure broad coverage.

Transforming University Governance and Decision-Making

The campaign combats 'performance deviations' like prioritizing image over substance. University leaders must now measure success by student employability, research impact, and faculty welfare. Xi'an Jiaotong University's congress integrated it with 1,200 representatives discussing talent and fusion education.Xinhua details these governance shifts.

China Agricultural University compiled 100+ '实事' items for campus improvements, exemplifying people-benefiting focus.

Photo by Meiying Ng on Unsplash

Challenges Addressed: Formalism and Bureaucracy in Academia

Higher education faces issues like excessive meetings, redundant reports, and metric-chasing. The campaign mandates burden reduction, regime cleanups, and开门纳谏 (open-door evaluation). Tongji University tailors to cadres (decision science), teachers (educator spirit), and students (belief fortification). 73

By July 2026 end, expect institutionalized safeguards against relapse, enhancing efficiency.

Future Outlook: Aligning with National Modernization Goals

As '15th FYP' unfolds, universities anticipate heightened party leadership, innovation drives, and global competitiveness. This campaign positions higher ed as a vanguard for高质量发展 (high-quality development), with cadres embodying real performance for socialist modernization.

Stakeholders foresee deeper ideological integration, benefiting international collaborations while upholding core values. For global observers, it signals China's commitment to principled, enduring progress in education.