On July 10, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs held a symposium on universities serving rural talent revitalization. Han Jun, Party Secretary and Minister of the Ministry, chaired the meeting and delivered a speech.The meeting emphasized the need to thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important directives on rural talent revitalization, carry out the decisions and arrangements of The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, further strengthen collaboration between the ministry and universities, adhere to the integration of science and education, and the convergence of industry and education, promote the organic interconnection of science, education and production, and jointly enhance the development of rural talent teams. This will provide robust talent and intellectual support for advancing comprehensive rural revitalization and accelerating the building of a strong agricultural nation.

At the meeting, Professor Zhu Xinkai, Executive Vice President of Renmin University of China, delivered a keynote speech titled "Carrying Forward the Red Gene, Focusing on National Strategies, and Contributing Renmin University's Strength to Rural Talent Revitalization."He stated that Renmin University of China has been thoroughly implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's important directives on building a strong agricultural nation and a strong educational nation. Centering on the fundamental mission of fostering virtue and cultivating talents, the university has been advancing the integrated development of education,science,technology,and talent cultivation. Leveraging its strengths and consolidating resources, the university has made active contributions to rural talent revitalization.

 

First, relying on the disciplines of agricultural economics and the China Rural Revitalization Research Institute, we have deeply cultivated frontline commanders for rural revitalization. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2021, Renmin University of China established the first National Rural Revitalization Research Institute in China. As one of the first think tank innovation highlands at the university, the institute focuses on fundamental, strategic, overarching, and forward-looking major issues in the rural revitalization process, providing policy advisory services and training frontline commanders for rural revitalization. Over the past five years, it has submitted over a hundred research reports to the central government and relevant ministries, with the vast majority being translated into policies. The institute initiated the China Rural Revitalization Typical Observation Hundred-County Alliance, established more than 200 national observation points, and released annual research reports along with a rural revitalization index.

Second, leveraging agricultural economics as a platform to cultivate high-end, interdisciplinary talent "most versed in China’s agricultural and rural governance." As the convening institution of the Agricultural Economics and Management Discipline Evaluation Group under the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, as well as the chair and secretariat of the National Teaching Guidance Committee for Agricultural Economics and Management Programs in Higher Education Institutions under the Ministry of Education , Renmin University of China has pioneered the integration of agricultural economics with Marxist political economy, theoretical economics, artificial intelligence, and big data technologies. It created China’s first "Outstanding Program in Agriculture, Rural and Farmers" program—a comprehensive, undergraduate-to-graduate training system for agricultural economics and management talent.At the same time, the "Eight Major Projects" was proposed— ideological and political education,inspiring learning, academic governance, tempering, knowledge-action unity, nurturing new talents, and pioneering—forming a closed-loop, full-cycle training model for rural revitalization talent that integrates ideological guidance, teaching innovation, capability training, and practical validation.

Third, leveraging county-level educational assistance as a key initiative to actively empower high-quality development of rural education.The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China and its joint school headquarters, as a pioneer in China's basic education, serve as the leading unit in the "group-style" assistance program for National Rural Revitalization Key Assistance County Education Talent "Group-style" Assistance Work jointly carried out by eight ministries including the Central Organization Department. With the main focus on "education poverty alleviation, intellectual poverty alleviation, and industrial poverty alleviation," it has established a unique comprehensive county-level basic education assistance system.

In the future, Renmin University of China will continue to focus on national strategic needs, with the core mission of constructing Sannongology and agricultural economics  independent knowledge system.By adopting a trinity approach"think tank platforms, academic disciplines, and educational assistance", the university will deepen collaboration with various departments of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and strengthen all-round connections with grassroots-level work in agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. Through these efforts, it aims to provide the "Renmin University Solution" for rural talent revitalization.

At the meeting, representatives from over 40 universities, including Tsinghua University, Peking University, Beijing Normal University, China Agricultural University, Zhejiang University, Huazhong Agricultural University, ‌Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University‌, Nanjing Agricultural University, and Southwest University, delivered thematic speeches and exchange remarks respectively.