The School of Marxism

1. Homepage

●  Mission

The Guangzhou University School of Marxism is aimed at educating professionals for society and in particular the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which own outstanding ability in education, teaching, and publicity under the guidance of  Marxist theory. The School focuses on the needs of Marxist Theory discipline development in the new era as well as the demand for talents in developing the Greater Bay Area. It constructs a reasonable curriculum system with Marxist theory, socialist theory with Chinese characteristics, and original classical works at the core. All such courses rely on the Teaching Practice Base of the National Innovation Experimental Zone for Teachers and Education, and two provincial-level research bases in the School in orderto combine theoretical teaching with practical teaching. With these efforts, students are trained to become Marxist theory talents who are excellent in the professional fields of teaching, education, development, publicity, scientific research and management.

●  General Description

The School of Marxism originates from the Department of Ideology and Politics of Guangzhou Normal College in 1958, and is funded by Guangdong Province as one of the key schools. The School now has one first-level discipline Master’s program on Marxist theory (including seven sub-disciplines), one sub-discipline Master’s program on Marxist Philosophy, one  Master of Education program—Subject Pedagogy (Ideology and Politics), one undergraduate degree program on Ideological and Political Education. All such programs are supported by 15 professors, 33 doctors, two PhD supervisors, and 17 Master supervisors, among whom one has been awarded the leading talent of National “Ten Thousand Talents Plan”, two awarded cultural experts and leading talents of “Four Groups” by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee,  and three chief experts of major projects supported by the National Social Science Fund.

The Marxist Theory discipline in Guangzhou University is one of the three key disciplines of Marxist Theory in Guangdong Province. Its comprehensive strength ranks around the 45^th place in Marxist Theory among colleges and universities.

2. Academic Programs

● Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum

Undergraduate Program: The Ideological and Political Education program has long been built upon a renowned pillar and a preponderant major in Guangzhou. As the only program on ideological and political education among high-level Marxism schools in Guangdong Province, this program is oriented to the needs of reform and development in elementary education in the new era. It primarily aims to educate middle school politics teachers with the potential to be outstanding teachers about five years after graduation as well as innovative scientific talents who are engaged in theoretical research on ideological and political education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Main Courses: Marxist Philosophy, Marxist Political Economy, Scientific Socialism, Socialist Theory with Chinese Characteristics, Principles of Politics, Ethics, Principles of Sociology, Principles of Law, Selected Readings of Classic Marxist Works, Selected Readings of Classic Western Works, Selected Readings of Traditional and Classic Chinese Works, Principles of Pedagogy, Principles of Psychology, Pedagogy in Politics, Modern Educational Technology.

● Postgraduate Programs and Curriculum

Programs:

(1) Master  Program on Marxist Theory (first-level discipline) includes six sub-disciplines: Fundamental Principles of Marxism, History of Marxist Development, Sinicization of Marxism, Foreign Research on Marxism, Ideological and Political Education, and Social Problems in Modern Chinese History;

  (2) Postgraduate Program on Marxist Philosophy (sub-discipline);

  (3) Master of Education [Subject Pedagogy (Ideology and Politics)].

Major Courses:

(1) Master courses on Marxist Theory include Research on Theory and Practice of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics; Methodology of Social Sciences; English Reading and Writing; English Listening and Speaking; Textual analysis on Classic Marxism; Seminars on Basic Principles of Marxism; Seminars on Sinicization of Marxism; Research on Contemporary Chinese Social Thoughts; Research on the Principles and Methodology of Ideological and Political Education; Scientific Research and Academic Writing.

(2) Master courses on Marxism Philosophy include Research on Theory and Practice of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics; Methodology of Social Science; English Reading and Writing; English Listening and Speaking; Research on Classic Marxist Philosophy Texts; History of Marxism Philosophy; Research on Dialectical Materialism; Research on Historical Materialism; Research on Marxist Axiology; Marxist Epistemology and Cognitive Science; Scientific Research and Academic Writing.

 (3) Courses for Master of Education [Subject Pedagogy (Ideology and Politics)] include Political Theory; English; Principles of Education; Psychological Development and Education; Research Methods in Education; Curriculum and Teaching Methodology; Research on Ideological and Political Course and Textbook; Design and Implementation of Ideological and Political Teachings; Research on Youth Work; Comparative Research on Chinese and Foreign Moral Education; Seminars on the Discipline of Ideological and Political Education;

3. Faculty and Research

Renowned Experts and Scholars:

Professor and PhD supervisor Zhao Zhongyuan is the cultural expert & theoretical leading talent  of “Four Groups” selected by the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, member of the presidium of the Guangdong Social Sciences Association, member of the Party Committee of Guangzhou University; Dean of School of Marxism, academic leader of the first-level discipline of Marxist Theory (provincial-level key preponderant discipline), Director of the Guangzhou University Base of Guangdong Research Center for Theoretical Systems on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, chief expert in major projects supported by the National Social Science Fund, expert in evaluation and achievement appraisal of projects supported by the National Social Science Fund, council member of the Chinese Association of Marx and Engels Research, Chinese Association of Political Sciences and Scientific Socialism Institute of China, Vice-President of Guangdong Society of Scientific Socialism and Political Society.

Professor Zhao has presided over 18 projects at national, ministerial, and provincial level (to include a major project supported by the National Social Science Fund, four provincial and ministerial major projects), and published four academic monographs, five co-authored articles, and more than 100 papers, of which 61 are copied, reprinted, or indexed. He has been awarded a second prize for Outstanding Achievements in Humanities and Social Sciences from the Ministry of Education, two first place prizes (2017, 2019) and two second place prizes (2005) for Outstanding Achievements in Provincial Philosophy and Social Sciences, a provincial "Five One Project" Work Award (2004), a first place prize and second place prize for Outstanding Achievements in Provincial Education and Teaching (Higher Education) (2018, 2020).

Professor and PhD supervisor Tu Chenglin is a leading talent of philosophy and Social Sciences in the national "Ten Thousand Talents Plan", Cultural Expert & Leading Talent of the “Four Groups” selected by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, ideological and cultural promotion leader of the Guangdong “Special Support Plan”, Guangzhou Outstanding Expert and the receiver of special government allowance by the State Council. Professor Tu has been primarily engaged in research on the theory and countermeasures concerning modern Western philosophy, historical materialism, cultural security, and urban development strategy. He has hosted more than 20 projects to include major bidding projects supported by the National Social Science Fund, general projects and provincial/ministerial projects supported by the National Social Science Fund. He has published more than 120 papers in journals, such as Social Sciences in China, Philosophical Studies and Education Research, of which over 40 papers have been reprinted in the Xinhua Digest and Chinese Social Science Digest. Professor Tu wrote monographs or co-authored ten works, such as Mission of Phenomenology—From Husserl, Heidegger to Sartre, Asian Model of Production and the Development Path for Eastern Society, Institutional Arrangements for Independent Innovation, and Research on National Soft Power and Cultural Security. His consultation reports have been approved by the foremost leaders of cities, provinces,  and the state. He has achieved more than ten awards to include the first place prize for Outstanding Achievements in Provincial Philosophy and Social Sciences, and the third place prize for Outstanding Achievements in Scientific Research of Colleges and Universities by the Ministry of Education.

       Professor and PhD supervisor Luo Mingxing has graduated in Ethics from Sun Yat-sen University. He is a council member of the China Association For Ethical Studies, Vice-Chairman of the Guangdong Association For Ethical Studies and member of the Teaching Steering Committee of the Guangdong Ideological and Political Theory Course. His main research field is the moral theory and education. Professor Luo has presided six provincial and ministerial research projects and published more than 40 academic papers. He teaching courses to include Ethics, Comparison of Chinese and Foreign Moral Education. Furthermore, Professor Luo was honored with “Outstanding Teacher of Southern Guangdong”, "Outstanding Teacher in Guangzhou" and "the Most Popular Teacher" of Guangzhou University. He also won a first place prize and a second place prize for Outstanding Achievements in Education and Teaching in Guangdong Province (Higher Education) (2020, 2018).

Professor and master supervisor Ouyang Jinggen received his Master’s degree in Political Theory from Renmin University of China and PhD degree in Comparative Politics of Peking University. His research focuses on national governance, institutional transformation, and comparative politics. Professor Ouyang is the chief expert of major projects supported by the National Social Science Fund and has been awarded by the Hebei Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department with “Yan Zhao Culture Talent”. He is also the deputy editor-in-chief of Master Academic Works of the Contemporary World: Political Science Series published by  Renmin University of China Press. He has presided over three projects supported by the National Social Science Fund (a major project, a key project, and a general project) and two projects supported by Hebei Social Science Fund. Professor Ouyang published three academic works, translated ten books, and published over 60 academic papers in the core journals to include Cass Journal of Political Science and Chinese Public Administration, of which one paper was republished in full by  Xinhua Digest and four were reprinted by the Chinese Social Science Digest (CSSD), and 11 were reprinted in full by the Information Center for Social Sciences of Renmin University of China, to include Political Science, Chinese Politics, Constitutional Law and Administrative Law, A Study on Ethnic Issues, etc. He received the third place prize at the Hebei Outstanding Social Science Achievement Awards and the third place prize at the National Party School System Outstanding Scientific Research Achievement Awards.

●  Academic research projects, research platforms or research teams hosted by the school

Research projects:

Discipline Platforms

The School currently has three research platforms which include the Guangzhou University Base of Guangdong Research Center for Theoretical Systems on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and Guangzhou Key Research Base for Marxist Youth Talent Cultivation.

Academic Team

The academic team consists of 41 members, to include 15 professors, 33 PhDs, two PhD supervisors, and 17 Master supervisors. The team also has one leading character of the National “Ten Thousand Talents Plan”, two cultural experts & leading talents from the “Four Groups” selected by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, three chief experts in major projects supported by the National Social Science Fund, one influential annual figure of  Ideological and Political theory Teachers in colleges and universities of  China, and two experts in evaluation and achievement appraisal from the National Social Science Fund. We have formed so far four well-grounded research groups, to include “a Study on Marxism and Sinicization in the New Era", " Hermeneutics on Basic principles of Marxism and Practical Study in China”, “a Study on Ideological and Political Education and Ideological Security", and “a Study on Party Construction and Grassroots Governance".

4. Honors and Awards

● Achievements

Awards (Awards at or above provincial level)

●  Title of Honor

5. Alumni

Profile of prominent alumni

Wen Bin was enrolled in 1986 and graduated in 1990. She currently serves as Party Committee Secretary and Deputy Dean at the School of Public Health of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University.

Wen Bin still bears in mind what was told by her teacher on her first day, “The study of materials, non-living substances or animals, such as pigs, cows, and sheep, is science. We study  human thoughts, and it should be a scientific discipline and worthy of our efforts.” She said: “The ones who have influenced me deeply  were my college teachers.”

Someone likely to be qualified in the disciplines of science and engineering often lean towards skill practice. Ms. Wen instead thinks that the major of Ideological and Political Education requires students more in respect to the complexity of social relations and communications. She makes herself as an example. She is impressed by a motto that what to be done eventually is to face alone, hold steadfastly and advance step by step no matter how difficult and exhausted till hardship is overcome. Such a kind of experience will be marked as a milestone of growth. She also said that youth should well ground and grow steadily rather than in pursuit of what is beyond grasp, also need to stay calm to encounter challenges. The rainbow will be seen, and all the efforts will be fruited as long as fight desperately. With more than 20 years of experience with students, she told us that we must humbly learn from others. Let those who know to teach and learn from others. There is always someone to be learnt. Only by continually enriching and working hard can you succeed one day!

Cao Baisheng was enrolled in 1994 and graduated in 1998. He is the former Principal of Nancun Middle School in Panyu District of Guangzhou City.

Cao Baisheng's original plan was to become a lawyer. However, he later realized he was better suited for education so he chose to become a teacher. After work, he found a passion for improving himself. He entered Sun Yat-sen University for further studies on the public management and aspired by “the virtue of public care”. Deeply motivated by this spirit, after becoming a leader, he was more determined to transform Nancun Middle School into a hub of knowledge imbued with the free care to educate students, since he was promoted to leadership. Looking back on this career, Mr. Cao informs young people with his experience that success comes from lifelong learning and enhanced by upgrading personal skills constantly. Also, young people must found the right values. Teachers, especially those in the field of ideological and political education, must establish and consolidate the right value before the guidance of others.

He said “four years in college grounds the future of life. A young person must orient him/herself with goals and plans. Otherwise, you will not find your life meaningful. It is important to nurture critical thinking during college and form an independent view. Last but not least, you should also build up the harmonious interpersonal relationship with a healthy mentality and .”

Zhan Wenjie was enrolled in 1996 and graduated in 2000, and is currently an Associate Researcher at the CASS Institute of Philosophy, Deputy Director of the Western Philosophical History Research Office, the council member of the All-China Association of Foreign Philosophical History, Secretary-General of the Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy Professional Committee, and Editorial Board member of The Journal of Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy.

During his undergraduate studies, Zhan Wenjie was diligent in thinking and passionate about research. After graduating in 2000, he entered the Department of Philosophy at Wuhan University to pursue his studies and obtained a Master degree in Philosophy in 2003. He was admitted to Tsinghua University in 2003, receiving a PhD in philosophy in 2006, and won the Amphlett Scholarship during this period. He also spent a year at the University of Birmingham as a visiting scholar. From 2006 to 2011, he held the position of Assistant Researcher in the CASS Institute of Philosophy and was supported by the China Scholarship Council for one year in  Cambridge University in the UK as a visiting scholar. In December 2011, he was named an Associate Researcher in the CASS Institute of Philosophy. Since2013, till2014, he researched at Princeton University in the US as a visiting scholar.

Since 2006, he has hosted one project supported by the National Social Science Fund and published seven monographs/translations, three papers in Philosophy Study,  six papers in World Philosophy, and two papers in Philosophical Trend.