Cultivating Core Socialist Values among University Students: The Role of Ideological and Political Education in China

Abstract

Cultivating the next generation’s commitment to core socialist values has become a central goal of China’s higher education in the Xi Jinping era. University students are a critical group for instilling these values, which include prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendship. This article adopts a literature-based analysis, reviewing research and policy developments from the past five years on ideological and political education (IPE) in Chinese universities. Key sources include recent academic studies, government guidelines, and practical case studies. The review finds that Chinese universities have integrated core socialist values throughout curricula, campus culture, and extracurricular programs. Innovations such as curriculum-based ideological education, new media engagement, volunteer service, and peer mentoring are used to enhance value internalization. Studies report improved student understanding and more positive attitudes when IPE employs interactive, student-centered methods rather than relying solely on top-down theoretical instruction. At the same time, challenges persist in truly embedding these values into students’ personal belief systems, as some education approaches remain overly formalistic or disconnected from students’ lived experiences. Effective cultivation of core values requires a holistic approach: updated teaching methods, rich practical opportunities, competent and exemplary instructors, and leveraging of technology and media to connect with students. The paper discusses how these strategies can address current gaps—such as low student engagement or superficial understanding—and argues that IPE plays an irreplaceable role in guiding youth values, fostering civic quality, and ensuring ideological continuity. Through continual innovation and commitment to student-centered pedagogy, ideological and political education in China can more successfully cultivate core socialist values among university students, contributing to both individual development and the broader goal of national rejuvenation.