The CCTV Imperative: Universities Must Open Doors to Entrepreneurship 🚪

In a compelling commentary published on February 9, 2026, CCTV highlighted the urgent need for Chinese universities to 'open their doors wide' in embracing entrepreneurship education. Authored by Prof. Way Kuo, President of City University of Hong Kong (CityU HK), the piece argues that fostering innovation and entrepreneurship is not about churning out unicorn startups or generating revenue, but cultivating a steady stream of talents equipped with innovative spirit and practical abilities.

Prof. Kuo envisions universities transforming into vibrant 'fry hatcheries' for nascent ventures, leveraging their unique strengths in specialized research and influx of talented students. This approach could yield 50 to 60 young entrepreneurs per institution annually, building a reserve of 500 to 600 innovators over a decade—laying the groundwork for a sustainable national research and development ecosystem.

This call resonates deeply within China's higher education landscape, where entrepreneurship education has evolved from a niche initiative to a cornerstone of national strategy, aligning with broader reforms under the 'Double World-Class' project.

China's Decade-Long Journey in Entrepreneurship Education

Entrepreneurship education in Chinese universities traces its roots to the 2015 national campaign of 'mass entrepreneurship and mass innovation' (大众创业万众创新), spearheaded by Premier Li Keqiang. This policy shift encouraged higher education institutions to integrate entrepreneurial training into curricula, establishing incubators, innovation centers, and competitions to nurture student-led ventures.

By 2026, the landscape has matured significantly. The Ministry of Education's reforms emphasize university-enterprise collaborations, particularly in high-tech fields like artificial intelligence (AI) and new materials. Research-oriented universities are now tasked with prioritizing sci-tech entrepreneurship and industrial applications, while applied institutions align with regional economic needs.

Key milestones include the launch of national demonstration bases for innovation and entrepreneurship education reform, with over 100 universities selected in early batches. Programs like the China International College Students' Innovation Competition (IJC) have engaged millions, fostering cross-disciplinary projects from AI-driven healthcare to sustainable energy solutions.

Prof. Way Kuo's Blueprint for Transformative Education

At the heart of the CCTV piece is a paradigm shift: from teacher-centered instruction to student-centered learning. Prof. Kuo stresses that modern students abound in knowledge but lack curiosity—the ability to pose the right questions amid easy access to answers. Universities must create environments for trial-and-error, where failure is a valuable lesson rather than a setback.

This involves revamping academic evaluations to prioritize patents and technology transfer over publications alone. CityU HK exemplifies this by encouraging PhD candidates to focus on commercialization, a model ripe for adoption across mainland institutions.

Government support amplifies these efforts. Beijing's 'education-science-talent integration' initiative has added 220 AI and quantum tech majors since 2025, with interdisciplinary platforms linking central and municipal universities.

Constructing Campus Ecosystems for Startups

Building an entrepreneurial ecosystem requires synergy among academia, industry, and policy. Universities like those in the Zhongguancun Forum ecosystem in Beijing have incubated over 100 projects, securing nearly 200 million RMB in funding and valuations approaching 1 billion RMB.

Initiatives such as the 'AI Future' hackathon and project-based training allow students to prototype ventures on campus. For instance, Zhongguancun's dual academies enable AI startups in embodied intelligence without leaving university grounds—providing seed funding, mentorship, and market access in a seamless loop.

• Project sourcing from enterprises to match student skills
• Incubation support for tech transfer
• Financing channels via venture arms

Such models echo Prof. Kuo's 'fish hatchery' metaphor, emphasizing quantity of quality seeds over instant big wins.

Spotlight: City University of Hong Kong's Pioneering Role

CityU HK stands as a beacon, with Prof. Kuo advocating differentiation over imitation of elite peers like Tsinghua or Peking. Key initiatives include:

• CityU Qingdao Innovation Center and Guangzhou Nansha Joint Lab for cross-border R&D
• Inauguration of the first Master's in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at CityU Dongguan
• 'Distinguished Visiting Professor Scheme' drawing 50+ experts from Harvard, MIT, Cambridge, and Oxford

These efforts position Hong Kong as a 'super-connector' in the Greater Bay Area, bridging global resources with mainland industries.

Mainland Powerhouses: Tsinghua and Peking Lead the Way

Tsinghua University's x-Lab, rooted in the School of Economics and Management, exemplifies integrated entrepreneurship training. This interdisciplinary platform spans 16 departments, offering courses in innovation management, strategy, and venture creation. Case studies show Tsinghua alumni founding ventures in AI and biotech, supported by on-campus incubators.

Peking University's HSBC Business School (PHBS) in Shenzhen emphasizes global business acumen, with programs blending entrepreneurship and fintech. Both institutions participate in national talent plans, producing graduates who drive China's tech boom.

Recent expansions include Tsinghua's book institutes like Wukong and Zijing, fusing engineering with AI for entrepreneurial projects.

Empirical Impact: Statistics Shaping the Narrative

A 2022 nationwide survey revealed 64.9% of Chinese college students harbor entrepreneurial aspirations, with programs significantly boosting intentions. Studies confirm entrepreneurship education enhances competencies, with participants 20-30% more likely to pursue startups post-graduation.

These figures underscore the scalability of CCTV's vision.

Navigating Challenges Amid Policy Momentum

Despite progress, hurdles persist: outdated curricula, risk-averse cultures, and funding gaps. Solutions include policy incentives like technology transfer rights reforms at Beijing Post University, allowing students to commercialize mentor inventions.

The Ministry's 2026 focus on 'classified reforms' addresses this, with 147 'Double World-Class' universities leading sci-tech ventures. For career seekers, platforms like higher-ed-jobs list faculty roles in entrepreneurship programs, while university-jobs offers admin positions in innovation centers.

Global Horizons: Internationalization in Entrepreneurship

Prof. Kuo reminds that 'University' derives from 'universe,' urging openness to global partnerships. CityU's Cambridge collaboration hosts Asia's largest postdoc program, while 'Belt and Road' ties expand networks.

This prepares talents for international markets, vital as China eyes AI leadership by 2030.

Photo by Chromatograph on Unsplash

Seizing Opportunities: Actionable Steps for Innovators

Aspiring entrepreneurs should join competitions like IJC, leverage incubators, and explore higher-ed-career-advice for skill-building. Institutions posting on higher-ed-jobs/faculty seek entrepreneurial educators.

Rate professors via rate-my-professor to find mentors. As CCTV urges, open doors lead to boundless innovation.