Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng visited the Education Quality Evaluation Agency (EQEA) of the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on April 7. He also presided over symposiums at each site to discuss issues relevant to the respective institutions.

Huai emphasized the role of education evaluation in guiding the direction of educational development. He urged the EQEA to stay abreast of the latest developments in both domestic and international education, remain alert to the new challenges arising from these shifts, and adjust its focus accordingly. He also recommended that the agency improve its evaluation index system, with a focus on three specific areas: the cultivation of top-notch innovative talent, research in advanced technologies, and the commercialization of research results to unleash new development potential. In addition, he called on the EQEA to strengthen research on differentiation in higher education and its impact on economic and social development. He said EQEA should offer guidance on how different higher education institutions can identify and develop specialized training programs or research areas that capitalize on their unique strengths.

Regarding the major tasks facing BFSU, Huai suggested the university establish interdisciplinary training programs featuring a “Foreign Language Plus” model, thus cultivating professionals with strong intercultural communication skills. He underlined the importance of research on market demand to align training with market needs. He also said BFSU should enhance its international cooperation, strengthen its country studies, and boost the competitiveness of China’s education system in the international arena.