The Marxism College of Minjiang University was formerly the Marxism-Leninism Teaching and Research Department. In 2002, the department was successively affiliated with the Department of Political Science and Sociology, and the Law Department. In July 2009, it was independently formed as the Teaching and Research Department of Ideology and Politics. In February 2017, the Marxism College was established. The College undertakes the teaching of ideological and political theory courses for graduate students and undergraduates; the research and promotion of basic Marxist theory and the spirit of the Party’s basic line and guidelines; carry out the “Three Advances” of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
The College has 7 teaching and research offices for courses including Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Basic Principles of Marxism, Essentials of Modern Chinese History, Ideological and Moral Cultivation and Basics of Law, Situation and Policy, Practical Teaching of Ideological and Political Theory, and Military Theory. The university-level plateau discipline “Research on the Sinicization of Marxism” mainly explores the basic theory of Marxism and the development of Marxism in contemporary China. Relying on the university-level “Research and Innovation Team of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”, the College strengthens the construction of scientific research platforms, namely “Research Center of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” (provincial department level) and “Research Center of Xi Jinping Addresses on Educational Work” (university level), expanding the functions of a think tank for local development. The College is an anchor unit for the Fuzhou Municipal Committee’s “Research Base of Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” and the Fuzhou Municipal Education Committee’s “Teaching Collaboration Center of University Ideological and Political Courses”. It has actively carried out social services, a number of CPPCC proposals, and decision-making consulting services; effectively carried out the service of “University Services for Rural Construction”.
The College has 41 staff members (including 3 for Military Theory), including 36 full-time teachers (including 7 non-establishment full-time teachers) and 5 part-time teachers. Among the full-time teachers, there are 5 professors and 21 associate professors, 72% of whom have senior titles. There are 6 doctors and 24 masters, with the well-educated accounting for 83% of the total. The teaching team is well-structured and reasonable, with the teachers aged 40-50 accounting for 70%. Remarkable achievements have been made in teaching and research. 1 teacher won the grand prize of the first National Ideological and Political Teaching Demonstration Activities, and 1 the grand prize of the Ideological and Political Group of the Young Teachers Teaching Competition in Fujian province. Teachers have published nearly 400 papers, published 36 books of various types, and successfully applied for more than 50 projects (including 12 at the national and ministerial levels), and won awards for various scientific research achievements for over 40 times (including 10 provincial and municipal social science achievement awards); carried out horizontal project cooperation research for 2 times.
Focusing on the work pattern integrating teaching, scientific research, and publicity, the College deepens teaching reform to improve the teaching quality of ideological and political courses, consolidates subject research to promote the construction of ideological and political theory courses. In strict accordance with the Standards for the Construction of Marxism Colleges and Universities by the Ministry of Education, the College regulates organizational management, teaching management, team management, and discipline construction; strictly implements the main teaching procedures in accordance with the 05 program of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China and the Ministry of Education, actively explores teaching reform, optimizes teaching methods, and highlights knowledge of basic Marxist theories, and strengthens the special function of ideological and political education. A teacher was rated as National Model Teacher, and the teaching and research sections of Ideological and Moral Cultivation and Basics of Law and Essentials of Modern Chinese History were awarded provincial and municipal “May Day Pioneer Post”.
Under a complete Party committee (general party branch) leadership mechanism, the College is vigorously promoting Party spirit education, strengthening the construction of teachers’ ideological responsibility, and insisting on educating people through teaching and fostering integrity and promoting rounded development of people. The College has established a publicity group for Party’s guidelines and policies. It has set up “Reading Club of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era for College Students”, with the systems of ideological and political course teachers as part-time teachers, close contact between ideological and political course teachers and counselors, and agreement concerning teachers’ short- and medium-term work responsibility.
Under the correct leadership of the university Party Committee, the College will gather further efforts for inheritance and innovation. It will continually consolidate the foundation of Marxist theory disciplines, strengthen the construction of a team of Marxist theoretical talents, and realize innovation in teaching methods of ideological and political theory courses, thus actively promoting the academic competitiveness and social influence of the College and achieving its leapfrog development.
