The term "higher education" as mentioned in this Law refers to the education implemented on the basis of completing senior secondary education. Article 3 The State adheres to the guidance of Marxism–Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory and follows the basic principles set by the Constitution to develop socialist higher education. Article 4 Higher education must implement the national education policy, serve the socialist modernization and the people, and combine with productive labor and social practice, so that the educated can become socialist builders and successors with all-round development in morality, intelligence, physique and beauty. Article 5 The task of higher education is to cultivate senior professionals with social responsibility, innovative spirit and practical ability, develop science, technology and culture, and promote socialist modernization. Article 6 The state shall, according to the needs of economic construction and social development, formulate plans for the development of higher education, establish institutions of higher learning and actively develop various forms of higher education.
The state encourages enterprises, institutions, social organizations, other social organizations, citizens and other social forces to establish institutions of higher learning according to law, and participate in and support the reform and development of higher education. Article 7 According to the needs of socialist modernization and the development of socialist market economy, the state promotes the reform of higher education system and higher education teaching, optimizes the structure and resource allocation of higher education, and improves the quality and efficiency of higher education. Article 8 The state shall, according to the characteristics and needs of ethnic minorities, help and support the development of higher education in ethnic minority areas and train senior professionals for ethnic minorities. Article 9 Citizens shall have the right to receive higher education according to law.
The state takes measures to help minority students and students with financial difficulties receive higher education.
Institutions of higher learning must recruit students with disabilities who meet the admission standards set by the state, and may not refuse to recruit students because of their disabilities. Article 10 The state guarantees the freedom of scientific research, literary and artistic creation and other cultural activities in institutions of higher learning according to law.
Scientific research, literary and artistic creation and other cultural activities in institutions of higher learning shall abide by the law. Eleventh institutions of higher learning should face the society, run schools independently according to law, and practice democratic management. Article 12 The State encourages cooperation among institutions of higher learning, between institutions of higher learning and scientific research institutions, and between enterprises and institutions, so as to complement each other's advantages and improve the efficiency in the use of educational resources.
The state encourages and supports international exchanges and cooperation in higher education. Thirteenth the State Council unified leadership and management of national higher education.
The people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall make overall plans for higher education within their respective administrative areas, and manage the institutions of higher learning authorized by the State Council to train talents mainly for local people. Article 14 The administrative department of education in the State Council is in charge of the national higher education, and manages the institutions of higher learning designated by the State Council to train talents mainly for the whole country. Other relevant departments of the State Council shall be responsible for higher education within the scope of duties stipulated by the State Council. Chapter II Basic System of Higher Education Article 15 Higher education includes academic education and non-academic education.
Higher education takes the form of full-time and part-time education.
The state supports the implementation of higher education through radio, television, correspondence and other distance education methods. Article 16 Higher education is divided into junior college education, undergraduate education and postgraduate education.
Higher education should meet the following academic standards:
(a) college education should enable students to master the basic theory and professional knowledge necessary for their major, and have the basic skills and preliminary ability to engage in practical work in their major;
(2) Undergraduate education should enable students to systematically master the basic theories and knowledge necessary for this discipline and major, master the basic skills, methods and related knowledge necessary for this major, and have the initial ability to engage in practical work and research work in this major;
(3) Postgraduate education should enable students to master solid basic theories and systematic professional knowledge in this discipline, master corresponding skills, methods and related knowledge, and have the ability to engage in practical work and scientific research in this major. Doctoral postgraduate education should enable students to master solid and broad basic theories, systematic and in-depth professional knowledge, corresponding skills and methods, and have the ability to independently engage in creative scientific research and practical work in this discipline. Article 17 The basic study period of junior college education is two to three years, that of undergraduate education is four to five years, that of postgraduate education is two to three years, and that of doctoral education is three to four years. The length of study of part-time higher education should be appropriately extended. Colleges and universities can adjust the length of study according to actual needs. Article 18 Higher education shall be implemented by institutions of higher learning and other institutions of higher education.
Universities and independent colleges mainly implement undergraduate and above education. Colleges and universities carry out specialized education. With the approval of the education administrative department of the State Council, scientific research institutions can undertake the task of postgraduate education.
Other institutions of higher education implement non-academic higher education.