Vice-Premier Liu Yandong stressed the need to deepen education reform and optimize its structure, with the aim of improving the overall quality of domestic postgraduate education.

Liu made the comments on Nov 5 during a meeting on the quality of China’s postgraduate education held during the 31th session of the Degree Committee under the State Council.

She called for deepening comprehensive reform of education and innovating personnel training to improve the quality of postgraduate education - thus cultivating more advanced talents for innovation-driven development and national modernization.

Liu said that since China began its process of reform and opening-up there has been a significant improvement in the overall level of domestic postgraduate education - and also in the ability to meet national demand - especially with the implementation of a national education plan.

She also said that following the country’s increased international influence, domestic postgraduate education has experienced a historic leap.

The vice-premier stressed the need to grasp the new trend of global economic and technological competition, and push forward the reform unswervingly. These efforts will encourage high-end talents to pursue a postgraduate education, boost China’s innovation in science and technology, and promote preservation and innovation of Chinese culture.

Liu called for a scientific concept of quality and an optimized structure according to society’s demand. She also said the country should focus on quality regarding its development, and on training to improve innovation and practical ability.

Liu said the authorities should create a supervisory body consisting of experts with both professional knowledge and great integrity. She also suggested China should focus on the combination of research and education, as well as of academic education and its related industries, and should also advance the internationalization of its postgraduate education.

The vice-premier called for laws and regulations, a sophisticated system and enhanced oversight responsibility, with the aim of improving quality of education and an evaluation system by third parties, thus creating a new phase of the reform and development of postgraduate education.