Forging the Foundation of the Spirit, Cultivating New Talents for the Era

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has produced a series of important discourses on running ideological and political theory courses well, profoundly answering the fundamental question of “what kind of people to cultivate, how to cultivate them, and for whom to cultivate them,” and providing the fundamental guidance for running these courses well. The ideological and political theory course is a key course in the New Era for comprehensively implementing the Party’s educational policy and fulfilling the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education. It is necessary to earnestly study, comprehensively implement, and fully carry out General Secretary Xi Jinping’s directives and requirements, strive to improve the quality of education and teaching in ideological and political theory courses, demonstrate greater achievements in cultivating new talents for the era who meet the demands of the New Era, and make greater contributions to ensuring that the Party’s cause and the building of a modern socialist country have successors.

党的十八大以来，习近平总书记围绕办好思想政治理论课作出一系列重要论述，深刻回答了“培养什么人、怎样培养人、为谁培养人”的根本问题，为办好思政课提供了根本遵循。思政课是新时代全面贯彻党的教育方针、落实立德树人根本任务的关键课程，要认真学习全面贯彻落实习近平总书记的指示要求，努力提高思政课的教育教学质量，在培养同新时代要求相符合的时代新人方面展现更大作为，为确保党的事业和社会主义现代化强国建设后继有人作出更大贡献。

I

一

Education in ideals and convictions is the core proposition for cultivating new talents for the era and a red thread running through the education and teaching of ideological and political theory courses. In August 2018, at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “the top priority in cultivating new talents for the era is to forge the foundation of the spirit with firm ideals and convictions.” Firm ideals and convictions provide new talents for the era with lofty goals for struggle, powerful motivation for progress, and a steadfast spiritual pillar. On March 18, 2019, at the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools, General Secretary Xi Jinping, from the perspective of education in ideals and convictions, stressed the duties and tasks of ideological and political theory courses, clearly stating: “Ideological and political theory courses must solve the problem of students’ ideals and convictions.” These important discourses emphasize the significant position of education in ideals and convictions within ideological and political theory courses, providing an inexhaustible spiritual driving force for cultivating new talents for the era.

理想信念教育是培养时代新人的核心命题，是贯穿思政课教育教学的一条红线。2018年8月，习近平总书记在全国宣传思想工作会议上强调，“培养时代新人，重中之重是要以坚定的理想信念筑牢精神之基。”坚定的理想信念为时代新人提供远大的奋斗目标、强大的前进动力和坚定的精神支柱。2019年3月18日，在学校思想政治理论课教师座谈会上，习近平总书记从理想信念教育的角度强调了思政课的职责任务，明确指出：“思政课要解决学生理想信念问题。”这些重要论述强调了理想信念教育在思政课中的重要地位，为培养时代新人提供不竭的精神动力。

Cultivating people with scientific theory. Firm ideals and convictions do not arise out of thin air; they originate from the arming of scientific theory, from a profound grasp of the laws of history, and from a correct understanding of the value of life. Marxism is a scientific theory and the guiding ideology and core content of ideological and political theory course education and teaching. The Marxist theory referred to here includes both the basic principles of Marxism and the theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. On March 18, 2019, at the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Running ideological and political theory courses well means carrying out education in Marxist theory, using the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge souls and educate people, guiding students to enhance their confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, cultivate deep patriotic feelings, and consciously integrate their love for the country, their aspiration to strengthen the country, and their actions to serve the country into the struggle to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, build a modern socialist country, and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” With a solid theoretical foundation and theoretical firmness, ideals and convictions can be firm. The main task of ideological and political theory courses is to systematically conduct basic Marxist theoretical education for students, transforming scientific theory into principles that students can easily accept, laying a scientific ideological foundation for students to strengthen their ideals and convictions, and making them qualified builders and reliable successors for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

用科学理论培养人。坚定的理想信念不是凭空产生的，而是来源于科学理论的武装，来源于对历史规律的深刻把握和人生价值的正确认识。马克思主义是科学的理论，是思政课教育教学的指导思想和核心内容。这里的马克思主义理论既包括马克思主义基本原理，也包括马克思主义中国化时代化理论成果，特别是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想。2019年3月18日，习近平总书记在学校思想政治理论课教师座谈会上指出：“办好思政课，就是要开展马克思主义理论教育，用新时代中国特色社会主义思想铸魂育人，引导学生增强中国特色社会主义道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信，厚植爱国主义情怀，把爱国情、强国志、报国行自觉融入坚持和发展中国特色社会主义、建设社会主义现代化强国、实现中华民族伟大复兴的奋斗之中。”有了坚实的理论基础，有了理论上的坚定，理想信念才能坚定。思政课的主要任务在于系统地对学生进行马克思主义的基本理论教育，把科学的理论变成学生易于接受的道理，为学生坚定理想信念奠定科学的思想基础，成为中国特色社会主义事业的合格建设者和可靠接班人。

Explaining principles deeply, thoroughly, and vividly. Cherishing the “greatest concerns of the state” [1]1 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools" (March 18, 2019), in *Selected Readings of Xi Jinping's Works*, vol. 2 (Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2023), p. 279. stems from the power of ideals and convictions. Ideological and political theory courses must explain the principles of faith deeply, thoroughly, and vividly, respond to students with thorough theoretical analysis, convince students with complete ideological theory, guide students with the powerful force of truth, and enable students to “know what it is, know why it is so, and know why it must be so.” The power of ideological and political theory courses lies in revealing the great force of theory, but in the actual teaching process, to a certain extent, there exists the phenomenon of empty preaching of Marxist theory. How to “explain principles” is a major issue that ideological and political theory courses need to treat seriously and study in depth. On April 25, 2022, during his inspection at Renmin University of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “The essence of ideological and political theory courses is to explain principles, and attention must be paid to methods and approaches, explaining principles deeply, thoroughly, and vividly. Teachers must teach with heart, and students must comprehend with heart, achieving the goals of communicating with the soul, enlightening wisdom and nurturing the heart, and inspiring fighting spirit.” Each course within the ideological and political theory curriculum should, from different perspectives, clearly explain the principles, theories, and philosophies of why the Communist Party of China can succeed, why Marxism works, and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good; clearly explain the arduous exploration and great achievements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in profoundly answering the questions of China, the world, the people, and the era; clearly explain China’s unique cultural traditions, unique historical destiny, and unique basic national conditions; scientifically answer the students’ deep-seated ideological and cognitive problems with tendencies; and guide students to deeply cultivate, from the depths of their hearts, their faith in Marxism and communism, their conviction in socialism with Chinese characteristics, and their confidence in comprehensively building a modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

把道理讲深、讲透、讲活。心怀“国之大者”，源于理想信念的力量。思政课要把信仰的道理讲深、讲透、讲活，以透彻的学理分析回应学生，以彻底的思想理论说服学生，用真理的强大力量引导学生，让学生“知其然、知其所以然、知其所以必然”。思政课的力量在于揭示理论的伟力，但在实际的教学过程中，一定程度上存在着对马克思主义理论进行空洞的说教的现象。如何“讲道理”，这是思政课需要严肃对待和深入研究的重大问题。2022年4月25日，习近平总书记在中国人民大学考察时强调：“思政课的本质是讲道理，要注重方式方法，把道理讲深、讲透、讲活，老师要用心教，学生要用心悟，达到沟通心灵、启智润心、激扬斗志。”思政课的各门课程都应从不同的侧面讲清楚中国共产党为什么能、马克思主义为什么行、中国特色社会主义为什么好的道理学理哲理，讲清楚习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想深刻回答中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问的艰辛探索和伟大成就，讲清楚中国独特的文化传统、独特的历史命运和独特的基本国情，科学回答学生所存在的带倾向性的深层思想认识问题，引导学生从内心深处厚植对马克思主义、共产主义的信仰，对中国特色社会主义的信念，对全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现中华民族伟大复兴的信心。

Establishing ideals and convictions that are concentric and aligned with the theme of the era. Ideological and political theory courses should educate and guide new talents for the era to integrate their personal ideals into the great ideal of national rejuvenation, unify the establishment of lofty ideals with down-to-earth action, and regard striving for the happiness of the people as their greatest happiness. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the vast majority of young people should establish “the lofty ideal of striving for the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the life conviction of firmly taking the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” New talents for the era must establish ideals and convictions that are concentric and aligned with the theme of the era, and have the courage to shoulder the historical responsibilities entrusted by the era. At the ceremony celebrating the centenary of the Communist Youth League of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping further pointed out: “The Chinese youth of the New Era are more confident and self-reliant, rich in speculative spirit, but also face the practical influence of various social trends of thought. Inevitably, they will encounter ideological confusion regarding ideals and reality, doctrines and problems, egoism and altruism, the small self and the big self, the nation and the world, etc. They are in even greater need of in-depth and meticulous education and guidance, to observe society with keen eyes, to contemplate life with a clear mind, and to create the future with the power of wisdom.” Ideological and political theory courses persist in using scientific theory to resolve ideological confusion regarding ideals and reality, problems and doctrines, egoism and altruism, the small self and the big self, the nation and the world, etc., transforming the responsibilities of the era and historical missions into the value pursuits and ideals and convictions of new talents for the era, integrating their own small self with the big self of the motherland and the big self of the people, and guiding new talents for the era to set lofty aspirations and become strivers, integrating their personal future into the torrent of the era of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

树立与时代主题同心同向的理想信念。思政课要教育引导时代新人把个人理想融入民族复兴伟大理想，把树立远大理想和脚踏实地统一起来，把为人民幸福而奋斗作为自己最大的幸福。习近平总书记指出，广大青年理应树立“为实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦而奋斗的远大理想，坚定走中国特色社会主义道路的人生信念”。时代新人要树立与时代主题同心同向的理想信念，勇于担当时代赋予的历史责任。习近平总书记在庆祝中国共产主义青年团成立100周年大会上进一步指出：“新时代的中国青年，更加自信自强、富于思辨精神，同时也面临各种社会思潮的现实影响，不可避免会在理想和现实、主义和问题、利己和利他、小我和大我、民族和世界等方面遇到思想困惑，更加需要深入细致的教育和引导，用敏锐的眼光观察社会，用清醒的头脑思考人生，用智慧的力量创造未来。”思政课坚持运用科学理论解答理想与现实、问题与主义、利己与利他、小我与大我、民族与世界等方面的思想困惑，把时代责任和历史使命转化为时代新人的价值追求和理想信念，融贯自己的小我和祖国的大我、人民的大我，引导时代新人立鸿鹄志、做奋斗者，把个人前途融入中华民族伟大复兴的时代洪流中。

II

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Thinking ability is the most direct manifestation of humanity’s ability to understand and transform the world. Ideological and political theory courses must teach students scientific thinking. On March 18, 2019, at the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “No matter how it is taught, it

思维能力是人类认识世界、改造世界能力的最直接体现，思政课要教会学生科学的思维。2019年3月18日，习近平总书记在学校思想政治理论课教师座谈会上指出：“无论怎么讲，最终都要落到引导学生树立正确的理想信念、学会正确的思维方法上来。”科学思维是思政课教育教学的重点，思政课要深入开展马克思主义立场、观点、方法教育，帮助学生形成正确的世界观、人生观、价值观，养成科学思维习惯，促进身心和人格健康发展。

Grasp the scientific world outlook and methodology of Marxism. Marxism is most concerned with the scientific spirit and the spirit of innovation. Ideological and political theory courses emphasize the study and mastery of the fundamental principles of Marxism and the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method contained within those fundamental principles. Marxist ideological theory is profound and extensive; it is always new no matter how often it is studied. At the National Conference on Ideological and Political Work in Colleges and Universities held from December 7 to 8, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Students of all disciplines and majors, and students at all stages of schooling, must study Marxist theory, grasp the scientific world outlook and methodology, and lay a scientific ideological foundation for their lifelong growth." [1]1 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools" (March 18, 2019), in *Selected Readings of Xi Jinping's Works*, vol. 2 (Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2023), p. 279. Ideological and political theory courses must teach students to make the study and mastery of Marxist theory their fundamental skill, educate students to correctly view, dialectically understand, and rationally analyze real social problems, draw clear lines between right and wrong, clarify vague understandings, enhance students' ability to make value judgments, choose values, and shape values, and guide students to believe in what they learn, apply what they learn, and act on what they learn, continuously improving their Marxist theoretical literacy.

掌握马克思主义的科学世界观和方法论。马克思主义是最讲科学精神、创新精神的，思政课教育教学强调对马克思主义基本原理和蕴含于基本原理之中的马克思主义立场、观点和方法的学习和掌握。马克思主义思想理论博大精深、常学常新。习近平总书记在2016年12月7日至8日召开的全国高校思想政治工作会议上指出：“各学科专业的学生、不同学段的学生都要学习马克思主义理论，掌握科学的世界观和方法论，为学生一生成长奠定科学的思想基础。”思政课要教会学生把学习掌握马克思主义理论作为看家本领，教育学生正确看待、辩证认识、理性分析社会现实问题，划清是非界限、澄清模糊认识，增强学生的价值判断能力、价值选择能力、价值塑造能力，引导学生学而信、学而用、学而行，不断提高马克思主义理论素养。

Learn to observe, analyze, and solve problems using the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method. The entire purpose of learning scientific theory lies in its application; application is the more important form of learning. On March 18, 2019, at a symposium for teachers of ideological and political theory courses, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "What teachers of ideological and political courses should give students is not merely a set of abstract concepts, but the stance, viewpoint, and method for observing and understanding the contemporary world and contemporary China." [1]1 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools" (March 18, 2019), in *Selected Readings of Xi Jinping's Works*, vol. 2 (Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2023), p. 279. Ideological and political courses should fully embody the principle of integrating theory with practice, both giving people fish and teaching them how to fish, thereby enhancing their ability to consciously apply the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method to understand, analyze, and solve problems. Only by closely integrating with the development of the era and science and technology, closely integrating with the practice of building a strong country and national rejuvenation as well as the Party's line, principles, and policies, and closely integrating with the ideological and cognitive issues prevalent among students in teaching, can we enlighten and educate people. Scientific thinking is a vivid manifestation of the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the importance of learning and applying scientific thinking. During an inspection at China University of Political Science and Law on May 3, 2017, he stressed: "Youth is a critical period for cultivating and training scientific thinking methods and thinking abilities. Whether at school or in society, one must closely combine learning with thinking, observation with thinking, and practice with thinking, maintain sensitivity to new things, learn to analyze problems using the correct stance, viewpoint, and method, be adept at grasping the direction of history and the era, and be adept at grasping the mainstream and tributaries, the phenomena and essence of social life," emphasizing that "cultivating the habits of historical thinking, dialectical thinking, systematic thinking, and innovative thinking will benefit one for a lifetime." [2]2 Xi Jinping, "Speech at an Inspection of China University of Political Science and Law" (May 3, 2017), *People's Daily*, May 4, 2017. Ideological and political courses must cultivate new talents for the era to develop habits of scientific thinking, actively guide students on the "hot spots" and "difficult issues" of common concern, be adept at using historical perspective to understand the laws of development, grasp the direction of progress, and guide work, and use the viewpoint of universal connection, comprehensive system, and developmental change to observe things, analyze problems, and solve problems, daring to innovate and create.

学会运用马克思主义立场、观点、方法观察分析问题。学习科学理论的目的全在于运用，运用是更重要的学习。2019年3月18日，习近平总书记在学校思想政治理论课教师座谈会上指出：“思政课教师给予学生的不应该只是一些抽象的概念，而应该是观察认识当代世界、当代中国的立场、观点、方法。”思政课应充分体现理论联系实际原则，既授人以鱼，又授人以渔，提高自觉应用马克思主义立场、观点和方法认识、分析和解决问题的能力。只有紧密结合时代和科学技术的发展，紧密结合强国建设、民族复兴的实践和党的路线方针政策，紧密结合学生中普遍存在的思想认识问题进行讲授，才能启迪人，教育人。科学思维是马克思主义立场观点方法的鲜明体现，习近平总书记多次强调善于学习与运用科学思维，2017年5月3日在中国政法大学考察时强调：“青年时期是培养和训练科学思维方法和思维能力的关键时期，无论在学校还是在社会，都要把学习同思考、观察同思考、实践同思考紧密结合起来，保持对新事物的敏锐，学会用正确的立场观点方法分析问题，善于把握历史和时代的发展方向，善于把握社会生活的主流和支流、现象和本质”，强调“养成了历史思维、辩证思维、系统思维、创新思维的习惯，终身受用。”思政课要培养时代新人养成科学思维习惯，对学生中普遍关心的“热点”、“难点”问题要积极引导，善于运用历史眼光认识发展规律、把握前进方向、指导工作，用普遍联系的、全面系统的、发展变化的观点观察事物、分析问题、解决问题，勇于创新创造。

Learn thinking methods from Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The most essential thing in learning theory is to get the thinking method right; only by getting the thinking method right can one enhance the ability to analyze and solve problems. Ideological and political courses help students master the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method. This must never stop at mere knowledge-based education; it must be closely integrated with reality, guiding students to comprehend laws, clarify directions, learn methods, and increase wisdom from the Party's scientific theory. On April 3, 2023, at the work conference on studying and implementing the theme education of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must draw wisdom and strength from the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge ahead with determination, and proficiently master the leadership methods, thinking methods, and working methods contained within it." [3]3 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Work Conference on Studying and Implementing the Theme Education of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" (April 3, 2023), *People's Daily*, April 4, 2023. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has made original contributions to Marxist thinking methods and modes of thought, opening up a new realm for the scientific thinking methods and modes of thought of the Communist Party of China. Studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era on the new journey of the New Era is an inevitable requirement for cultivating new talents for the era capable of shouldering the task of national rejuvenation. Ideological and political courses educate and guide students to grasp the trends of the era's development, to stimulate faith, gain inspiration, and draw strength from studying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, to resolve theoretical understanding and scientific thinking, and to bravely become pioneers of the era with Chinese sentiment, global vision, and international perspective.

从习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想中学习思想方法。学习理论最要紧的是把思想方法搞对头，只有把思想方法搞对头，才能增强分析和解决问题的能力。思政课帮助学生掌握马克思主义立场观点方法，决不能仅仅停留在单纯的知识教育上，要紧密结合实际，引导学生从党的科学理论中悟规律、明方向、学方法、增智慧。2023年4月3日，习近平总书记在学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想主题教育工作会议上指出：“要从新时代中国特色社会主义思想中汲取奋发进取的智慧和力量，熟练掌握其中蕴含的领导方法、思想方法、工作方法”。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对马克思主义思想方法和思维方式作出了原创性贡献，开拓了中国共产党科学思想方法和思维方式的新境界。新时代新征程学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，是培养担当民族复兴大任时代新人的必然要求。思政课教育引导学生把握时代发展的潮流，从习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想学习中激发信仰、获得启发、汲取力量，解决理论认识和科学思维，勇做具有中国情怀、世界眼光和国际视野的时代先锋。

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三

The cultivation of new talents for the era is a systematic project, and ideological and political courses occupy a key position in the process of their growth and maturation. In August 2018, at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "New talents for the era who shoulder the task of national rejuvenation must conform to the requirements of the New Era in terms of ideological level, political awareness, moral quality, cultural literacy, and mental state." [4]4 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work" (August 21-22, 2018), *People's Daily*, August 23, 2018. The growth and maturation of new talents for the era cannot be separated from the value guidance, moral cultivation, and theoretical enhancement provided by ideological and political courses. Ideological and political courses must continuously improve the ideological and moral quality and legal quality of new talents for the era, assisting them in growing and maturing.

时代新人培养是一个系统工程，思政课在时代新人成才成长过程中居于关键地位。2018年8月，习近平总书记在全国宣传思想工作会议上指出：“担当民族复兴大任的时代新人，必须是在思想水平、政治觉悟、道德品质、文化素养、精神状态等方面同新时代要求相符合的。”时代新人的成长成才离不开思政课的价值引领、品德涵养和理论提升。思政课要不断提高时代新人的思想道德素质和法律素质，助力时代新人成长成才。

Ideological and political courses run through the golden period of life for the growth of new talents for the era. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to youth work, cares deeply for the healthy growth of young people, and emphatically points out: "The adolescent stage is the 'jointing and booting stage' of life. During this period, the mind and body gradually become sound, and thinking enters its most active state, requiring the most careful guidance and cultivation." [5]5 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools" (March 18, 2019), in *Selected Readings of Xi Jinping's Works*, vol. 2, p. 280. The growth process of students has its own regularity. It is necessary to be adept at grasping the common ideological and cognitive issues in the student growth process for planned education, while also paying attention to closely integrating with the development of the situation and the students' ideological dynamics for targeted education. Among all curriculum systems, ideological and political courses play a role in political and value guidance, serving as the "frontline position" and "main channel" for guiding students to establish correct ideological concepts and value norms. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "It is very necessary to offer ideological and political courses progressively and spirally in primary schools, middle schools, and universities. This is an important guarantee for cultivating generation after generation of socialist builders and successors. Human growth, maturation, and becoming talented do not happen overnight but are a gradual process, just like human physiological development. Therefore, these stages must all be well laid out." [6]6 Ibid. At different stages of the "jointing and booting stage," teachers of ideological and political courses should strive to become "great masters" who unify the "classic teacher" skilled in "transmitting the Way, imparting knowledge, and resolving doubts" and the "human teacher," and be good guides for the growth and maturation of new talents for the era. The education and teaching of ideological and political courses must follow the laws of ideological and political work, the laws of teaching and educating, and the laws of student growth, proceeding progressively, spirally upward, from the shallow to the deep, guiding students to gradually establish correct life aspirations and ideals that conform to their own needs and those of society, and to recognize and fulfill the lofty responsibilities of new talents for the era.

思政课贯穿时代新人成长的人生黄金期。习近平总书记高度重视青少年工作，亲切关怀青少年健康成长，强调指出：“青少年阶段是人生的‘拔节孕穗期’，这一时期心智逐渐健全，思维进入最活跃状态，最需要精心引导和栽培。”学生的成长过程是有规律性的，既要善于抓住学生成长过程中带有普遍性的思想认识问题有计划地进行教育，又要注意密切结合形势的发展和学生的思想动态有针对性地进行教育。在所有课程体系中，思政课起着政治引领和价值引领的作用，是引导学生树立正确思想观念和价值规范的“前沿阵地”“主渠道”。习近平总书记指出：“在大中小学循序渐进、螺旋上升地开设思政课非常必要，是培养一代又一代社会主义建设者和接班人的重要保障。人的成长、成熟、成才不是一蹴而就的，而是一个渐进的过程，就跟人的生理发育一样，所以要把这几个阶段都铺陈好。”在“拔节孕穗期”的不同阶段，思政课教师要努力做精于“传道授业解惑”的“经师”和“人师”相统一的“大先生”，当好时代新人成长成才的引路人。思政课教育教学要遵循思想政治工作规律、教书育人规律、学生成长规律，循序渐进，螺旋上升，由浅入深，引导学生逐步树立符合自身和社会需要的正确人生志向和理想，认清和履行时代新人的崇高责任。

Solve the practical problems encountered in the process of growth and maturation of new talents for the era. The changes unseen in a century will encounter many unprecedented new problems and new contradictions. The political nature, academic rationality, value orientation, and knowledge content of ideological and political courses are the fundamental guarantee that the socialist cause will have successors, thrive, and achieve victory. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Any society in any period will have various problems. We must educate and guide students to correctly view, dialectically understand, and rationally analyze real problems, to distinguish right from wrong, truth from falsehood, and black from white, and to promote the true, the good, and the beautiful in the critique of social phenomena of the false, the evil, and the ugly." [7]7 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the National Conference on Education" (September 10, 2018), *People's Daily*, September 11, 2018. We must persist in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge souls and educate people, making ideological and political courses closely combine with reality, fully interact with practice, resonate with the times, and combine the resolution of ideological problems with the resolution of practical problems. We must guide students in handling issues encountered in study, talent development, career choice, making friends, health, and daily life, and cultivate students ideologically, knowledge-wise, character-wise, and behaviorally into new talents for the era capable of shouldering the task of national rejuvenation, injecting a continuous stream of youthful energy into the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.

解决时代新人成长成才过程中遇到的实际问题。百年未有之大变局会遇到许多前所未有的新问题、新矛盾。思政课的政治性、学理性、价值性和知识性，是社会主义事业后继有人、兴旺发达、取得胜利的根本保证。习近平总书记指出：“任何社会任何时期都会有各种问题存在，要教育引导学生正确看待、辩证认识、理性分析现实问题，辨明大是大非、真假黑白，在对社会假恶丑现象的批判中弘扬真善美。”我们要坚持用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想铸魂育人，让思政课与现实紧密结合、与实践充分互动、与时代同频共振，把解决思想问题和解决实际问题结合起来，指导学生处理好在学习、成才、择业、交友、健康、生活等方面遇到的问题，将学生从思想上、知识上、品格上、行为上培养成为担当民族复兴大任的时代新人，为强国建设、民族复兴伟业注入源源不断的青春力量。

Guide students to establish moral integrity and aspire to become capable individuals. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized fostering virtue and nurturing talent, stressing its importance from various perspectives, pointing out: “The cultivation of talent is necessarily a process that unifies education in knowledge and education in moral character, and education in moral character is fundamental. Without virtue, a person cannot stand; the foundation of education lies in establishing virtue. This is the dialectics of talent cultivation.” [8]8 The 18th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2012, marking the beginning of the New Era under Xi Jinping’s leadership. What kind of virtue to establish and what kind of talent to cultivate depends to a large extent on ideological and political theory courses; fostering virtue and nurturing talent is the value of these courses. As the key curriculum for implementing the fundamental task of fostering virtue and nurturing talent, ideological and political theory courses must adapt to changes in the international situation, domestic development needs, and the growth needs of students, guiding students to stand at the forefront of the times, helping them establish a correct worldview, outlook on life, and value system, [9]9 “Worldview, outlook on life, and value system” (世界观、人生观、价值观) is a standard triad in Chinese Marxist moral education, referring to the fundamental perspectives on the world, life, and values that guide individual behavior. cultivating roots and forging the soul, enlightening wisdom and moistening the heart. [10]10 “Cultivating roots and forging the soul, enlightening wisdom and moistening the heart” (培根铸魂、启智润心) is a four-character idiom-like phrase used in Chinese educational discourse to describe the holistic development of students’ moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities. Reform and innovation in ideological and political theory courses must be continuously advanced in terms of teaching philosophy, teaching content, teaching methods, and teaching means, so that students are willing to learn, learn deeply and thoroughly, and apply what they have learned. It is necessary to follow the group characteristics and moral cognitive laws of new talents for the era, closely integrating the fostering of virtue and nurturing of talent with the thoughts, concerns, and life interests of new talents for the era, helping them set aspirations early and set great aspirations, embracing the “great affairs of the state,” [11]11 “Great affairs of the state” (国之大者) is a phrase popularized by Xi Jinping, referring to the most important national interests and strategic priorities that Party members and citizens should keep in mind. shouldering mission and tasks, and cultivating generation after generation of useful talents who support the leadership of the Communist Party of China and China’s socialist system, and are determined to strive for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics throughout their lives.

引导学生立德成人、立志成才。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记反复强调立德树人，从不同的角度强调了立德树人的重要性，指出：“人才培养一定是育人和育才相统一的过程，而育人是本。人无德不立，育人的根本在于立德。这是人才培养的辩证法。”立什么样的德、树什么样的人很大程度上取决于思政课，立德树人是思政课的价值所在。作为落实立德树人根本任务的关键课程，思政课要适应国际局势变化、国内发展需要和学生成长需要，引领学生立足时代潮头，帮助学生树立正确的世界观、人生观、价值观，培根铸魂、启智润心。要从教学理念、教学内容、教学方式、教学手段等方面不断推进思政课改革创新，使学生愿意学、学得入心入脑、学以致用。要遵循时代新人的群体特征和道德认知规律，使立德树人与时代新人所思所想、生活关切紧密结合，帮助时代新人早立志、立大志，胸怀“国之大者”，担当使命任务，培养一代又一代拥护中国共产党领导和我国社会主义制度、立志为中国特色社会主义事业奋斗终身的有用人才。

Online editor: Ma Jingren

网络编辑：马京仁