New Developments in Xi Jinping’s Important Discourses on Ideological and Political Theory Courses in the Five Years Since the “3·18” Important Speech

I. The Deepening of Xi Jinping’s Important Discourses on Ideological and Political Theory Courses Since the “3·18” Important Speech

一、“3·18”重要讲话以来习近平总书记关于思政课重要论述的深化

Since the “3·18” Important Speech, Xi Jinping’s important discourses on the construction of ideological and political theory courses have further deepened understanding of the status of these courses, the concept of the ideological and political curriculum, the essence of ideological and political teaching, the process of ideological and political teaching, and the evaluation of ideological and political courses, raising higher requirements for their construction. This is mainly reflected in the following five aspects.

“3·18”重要讲话以来，习近平总书记关于思政课建设的重要论述进一步深化了对思政课地位、思政课程观念、思政课教学本质、思政课教学过程、思政课程评价等方面的认识，对思政课建设提出更高要求，主要体现在以下五个方面。

First, the deepening of the important status of ideological and political theory courses. The “3·18” Important Speech places these courses in the context of changes unseen in a century and the overall situation of the Party’s and the state’s undertakings, treating them from the perspective of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, comprehensively building a modern socialist country, and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. From the standpoint of universities implementing the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education [1]1 “Fostering virtue through education” (立德树人) is a fundamental task of education in China, emphasizing the cultivation of moral character and the nurturing of talent., it proposes that ideological and political theory courses are the key courses for fulfilling this task, reflecting the high importance the Party and the state attach to them, and it sets clear requirements for strengthening Party leadership over their construction. Since the “3·18” Important Speech, Xi Jinping has repeatedly paid attention to the construction of these courses and issued important discourses, fully demonstrating his emphasis on their status and role. He has elevated the construction of ideological and political theory courses to a top priority in the Party’s leadership over educational work, further raising their important position in higher education. From “key courses” to “top priority,” this further highlights the significant bellwether status of ideological and political theory courses in educational work.

一是对思政课重要地位的深化。“3·18”重要讲话把思政课放在世界百年未有之大变局、党和国家事业发展全局中来看待，从坚持和发展新时代中国特色社会主义、全面建设社会主义现代化强国、实现中华民族伟大复兴的高度来对待，从高校落实立德树人根本任务的角度，提出思政课是落实立德树人根本任务的关键课程，体现了党和国家对思政课的高度重视，并就加强党对思政课建设的领导提出明确要求。“3·18”重要讲话以来，习近平总书记多次关注思政课建设并发表重要论述，充分体现对思政课的地位和作用的重视。他把思政课建设提升到党领导教育工作的重中之重的地位，进一步提升思政课在高等教育中的重要地位。从“关键课程”到“重中之重”，进一步凸显思政课在教育工作中的重要的风向标地位。

Second, the deepening of the concept of the ideological and political curriculum. In elaborating on the reform and innovation of ideological and political teaching and deepening understanding of its principles and laws, the “3·18” Important Speech contains rich content regarding a “grand ideological and political” curriculum concept. For example, “upholding the unity of value and knowledge” and “upholding the unity of theory and practice” inherently include content such as direct and indirect courses, value and knowledge, and theory and practice. These discussions contain the content and embryonic form of a “grand ideological and political” curriculum concept. At the same time, the “3·18” Important Speech also explicitly introduces the concepts of explicit and implicit courses, emphasizing that “ideological and political theory courses should be the explicit courses of ideological and political education,” clearly dividing these courses into explicit and implicit categories within a “grand curriculum.” However, the “3·18” Important Speech did not propose the concept of “grand ideological and political courses.” Since the “3·18” Important Speech, Xi Jinping has explicitly proposed the concept of “grand ideological and political courses” and deepened its content from multiple aspects, including social practice, vibrant life, and the achievements of the New Era, thereby updating and expanding the concept of the ideological and political curriculum.

二是对思政课程观的深化。“3·18”重要讲话在阐述思政课教学改革创新、深化对思政课教学原则和规律的认识过程中，包含着丰富的“大思政”课程观的内容，比如“坚持价值性和知识性相统一”“坚持理论性和实践性相统一”内在地包含直接课程与间接课程、价值性与知识性、理论性与实践性等内容，这些论述包含“大思政”课程观的内容和雏形。同时，“3·18”重要讲话还明确提出显性课程和隐性课程概念，强调“思政课要做思想政治教育的显性课程”，明确把思政课划分为显性课程和隐性课程的“大课程”内容，但是“3·18”重要讲话并没有提出“大思政课”的概念。“3·18”重要讲话以来，习近平总书记明确提出“大思政课”概念，并且从社会实践、火热生活、新时代成就等多个方面深化“大思政课”的内容，更新和拓展了思政课程观。

Third, the deepening of the essence of ideological and political teaching. The “3·18” Important Speech proposes that ideological and political teaching should uphold the teaching principles of unity between political nature and academic rigor, value and knowledge, constructiveness and critique, theory and practice, uniformity and diversity, dominance and subjectivity, inculcation and inspiration, and explicit and implicit education, but it does not reveal the essence of ideological and political teaching. Since the “3·18” Important Speech, Xi Jinping has profoundly expounded on the essence of ideological and political teaching. The statement that “the essence of ideological and political courses is to explain principles” elevates the understanding of ideological and political teaching to the level of inherent laws, transcending the levels of knowledge and experience to reach the level of value and “the Way” (道), revealing the essential connotation to be conveyed. This represents a new sublimation of the essence of curriculum teaching.

三是对思政课教学本质的深化。“3·18”重要讲话提出思政课要坚持政治性和学理性、价值性和知识性、建设性和批判性、理论性和实践性、统一性和多样性、主导性和主体性、灌输性和启发性、显性教育和隐性教育相统一的教学原则，但并没有揭示思政课教学的本质。“3·18”重要讲话以来，习近平总书记深刻阐述思政课教学本质问题。“思政课的本质是讲道理”的论述，把对思政课教学的认识提升到内在规律层面，超越了思政课教学的知识、经验层面内容，达到价值、“道”的层面，揭示背后所要传递的本质内涵，这是对课程教学本质的新升华。

Fourth, the deepening of the process of ideological and political teaching. The “3·18” Important Speech establishes the principle of “upholding the unity of dominance and subjectivity” for the teacher-student relationship in ideological and political teaching activities, but it does not specifically elaborate on this relationship in the teaching process. Since the “3·18” Important Speech, Xi Jinping has deepened the understanding of the teaching process from the perspectives of the teacher’s “teaching” (教) and the student’s “comprehension” (悟), as well as the ultimate effect achieved. He has profoundly expounded on the essence and inherent requirements of the teaching process, emphasizing that ideological and political teaching activities include both the teacher’s “teaching” and the student’s “comprehension,” and that these two aspects must achieve spiritual resonance and form a combined force.

四是对思政课教学过程的深化。“3·18”重要讲话对思政课教学活动中师生关系确立了“坚持主导性和主体性相统一”的原则，但并没有具体阐述教学过程中的师生关系。“3·18”重要讲话以来，习近平总书记从教师“教”和学生“悟”两个方面以及最后达到效果的角度，对思政课教学过程进行深化，深刻阐述了教学过程的实质和内在要求，强调思政课教学活动既包括教师的“教”，也包含学生的“悟”，并且两个方面要达到心灵契合、形成合力。

Fifth, the deepening of the evaluation of ideological and political courses. The “3·18” Important Speech proposes clear evaluation criteria for ideological and political courses, namely, “promoting the formation of a good atmosphere in which the entire Party and society strive to run ideological and political courses well, teachers teach them well, and students actively learn them well,” providing evaluation goals for these courses. Since the “3·18” Important Speech, Xi Jinping has further proposed evaluation standards and requirements for ideological and political courses. Whether ideological and political courses are run well “depends on whether they are valued, whether they are adapted to, and whether they are done well,” which provides new evaluation criteria for the assessment of ideological and political teaching.

五是对思政课程评价的深化。“3·18”重要讲话提出明确的思政课评价标准，即“推动形成全党全社会努力办好思政课、教师认真讲好思政课、学生积极学好思政课的良好氛围”，为评价思政课提供了评价目标。“3·18”重要讲话以来，习近平总书记进一步提出思政课评价标准和评价要求。思政课办得好不好“关键看重视不重视、适应不适应、做得好不好”，这为思政课教学评价提供新的评价标准。

II. Promoting High-Quality Development in the Construction of Ideological and Political Theory Courses Guided by Xi Jinping’s Important Discourses

二、以习近平总书记关于思政课重要论述为指导，推动思政课建设高质量发展

Judging from Xi Jinping’s important discourses on the construction of ideological and political theory courses since the “3·18” Important Speech, he has continuously deepened his understanding of this construction and put forward new requirements. The “3·18” Important Speech and the subsequent important discourses on the construction of ideological and political theory courses should be studied and understood as a whole, and guided by Xi Jinping’s important discourses, we should promote the high-quality development of the construction of ideological and political theory courses.

从“3·18”重要讲话以来习近平总书记关于思政课建设的重要论述来看，习近平总书记不断深化对思政课建设的认识，对思政课建设提出新的要求。要把“3·18”重要讲话及其之后习近平总书记关于思政课建设的重要论述作为一个整体进行学习领会，并以习近平总书记关于思政课建设重要论述为指导，推动思政课建设高质量发展。

First, clarify the focus of ideological and political teaching. The “3·18” Important Speech explicitly requires that “using Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge souls and educate people” be taken as the primary task of constructing ideological and political theory courses. The construction of these courses should focus on teaching content, teach the course “Introduction to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” well, build a curriculum system centered on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, promptly introduce the historic achievements and historic changes of the Party and the state in the New Era into the classroom, educate students with the great theory and practice of the New Era, and let Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the latest achievements of the Party’s innovative theories take root in people’s hearts.

一要明确思政课教学的重点。“3·18”重要讲话明确要求把“用新时代中国特色社会主义思想铸魂育人”作为思政课建设的首要任务。思政课建设要在思政课教学内容上下功夫，讲好“习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想概论”课程，构建以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为核心的课程体系，把新时代党和国家取得的历史性成就和历史性变化及时引入课堂，用新时代伟大理论和实践教育学生，让习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想和党的创新理论最新成果深入人心。

Second, update the concept of the ideological and political curriculum. Judging from Xi Jinping’s important discourses on ideological and political theory courses since the “3·18” Important Speech, he has explicitly proposed the concept of “grand ideological and political courses.” “Grand ideological and political courses” require that the construction of ideological and political theory courses be carried out in a broad social context and a real-life environment, and that teaching activities should not be confined to the classroom. On the new journey of the New Era, the construction of ideological and political theory courses takes place in a “holistic and holographic” environment. It is necessary not only to consider the values behind knowledge and the emotions expressed in the classroom but also to consider the actual impact on students, to recognize the implicit factors in the classroom and the social environment (including the online environment), and to advance the construction and development of ideological and political theory courses with the concept of “grand ideological and political courses.”

二要更新思政课课程观念。从“3·18”重要讲话以来习近平总书记关于思政课重要论述来看，习近平总书记已经明确提出“大思政课”的概念。“大思政课”要求在广阔的社会背景下、真实的生活环境中进行思政课建设，不能把教学活动局限在课堂教学环节。新时代新征程，思政课建设是在一种“整体全息”的环境下进行的，不仅要考虑知识背后的价值观、课堂中流露的情感，还要考虑对学生的实际影响，认识到课堂和社会环境（包括网络环境）中的隐性因素，用“大思政课”观念推进思政课建设发展。

Third, deepen the understanding of the essence of ideological and political teaching. Judging from Xi Jinping’s important discourses on the essence of ideological and political theory courses since the “3·18” Important Speech, the essence of ideological and political teaching lies not in imparting knowledge or in gaining educational experience, but in grasping the “Way” (道) contained in the knowledge and experience of ideological and political teaching through the scientific theory of Marxism and the educational experience gained from ideological and political teaching. On the new journey of the New Era, ideological and political teaching should properly handle the internal relationships between teaching form and content, phenomenon and essence, imparting knowledge and revealing the “Way,” and through teaching “transmit the Way,” further grasping the essence and inherent laws of ideological and political teaching.

三要深化对思政课教学本质的认识。从“3·18”重要讲话以来习近平总书记关于思政课本质的重要论述来看，思政课教学的本质不在于传授知识，也不在于获得教育经验；而在于透过马克思主义科学理论、透过思政课教学获得的教育性经验，体会到思政课教学知识、经验中蕴含的“道”。新时代新征程，思政课教学要处理好教学形式与内容、现象与本质、传授知识与揭示“道”等内在关系，透过教学“传道”，进一步把握思政课教学的本质和内在规律。

Fourth, grasp the teacher-student relationship in the process of ideological and political teaching. Judging from Xi Jinping’s important discourses on ideological and political teaching, he understands the teacher-student relationship in the teaching process as encompassing “teaching” (教) and “comprehension” (悟) and the interaction between the two. On the new journey of the New Era, ideological and political teaching should adjust the teacher-student relationship to form a new type of teacher-student relationship in the process of ideological and political teaching.

四要把握思政课教学过程中的师生关系。从习近平总书记关于思政课教学的重要论述来看，习近平总书记是从包含“教”和“悟”以及二者之间的互动来理解教学过程中的师生关系。新时代新征程，思政课教学要调整师生关系，形成新型思政课教学过程中的师生关系。

Fifth, the temporal and spatial scope of ideological-political course teaching should be expanded. From the perspective of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on ideological-political courses, Xi Jinping has expanded the temporal-spatial view of ideological-political courses. From the temporal dimension, Xi Jinping has clearly stated that youth ideological-political education is a continuous process, and that ideological-political education should be carried out in a targeted manner according to the different stages of youth development. From the spatial dimension, “grand ideological-political courses” [2]2 “Grand ideological-political courses” (大思政课) refers to a concept promoted by Xi Jinping that expands ideological-political education beyond the traditional classroom to include social practice, cultural activities, and other real-world settings. have greatly expanded the spatial scope of ideological-political course construction. On the new journey of the New Era, ideological-political course teaching should follow the characteristics of the formation and development of youth’s ideological-political quality at the primary, secondary and university stages, and design youth’s ideological-political development as a whole that unifies continuity and stages.

五要拓展思政课教学的时空范围。从习近平总书记关于思政课重要论述来看，习近平总书记拓展了思政课时空观。从时间维度看，习近平总书记明确提出青少年思想政治教育是一个接续的过程，要针对青少年成长的不同阶段，有针对性地开展思想政治教育。从空间维度看，“大思政课”极大地拓展了思政课建设的空间范围。新时代新征程，思政课教学要遵循大中小学阶段青少年思想政治素质形成和发展的特点，把青少年思想政治发展作为一个连续性与阶段性相统一的整体进行设计。

Sixth, the practical effectiveness of ideological-political course teaching should be further enhanced. From the perspective of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on ideological-political courses since the “3·18” Important Speech, Xi Jinping has expanded the concept of teaching evaluation, taking “whether it is valued, whether it is adapted, whether it is done well” as the key indicators of evaluation. On the new journey of the New Era, the evaluation of ideological-political course teaching should conduct multi-dimensional evaluation of course teaching from multiple angles such as “whether it is valued, whether it is adapted, whether it is done well,” so as to enhance the practical effectiveness of ideological-political course teaching.

六要进一步增强思政课教学实效。从“3·18”重要讲话以来习近平总书记关于思政课重要论述来看，习近平总书记拓展了教学评价观念，把“重视不重视、适应不适应、做得好不好”作为评价的关键指标。新时代新征程，思政课教学评价要从“重视不重视、适应不适应、做得好不好”等多个角度对课程教学进行多元评价，提升思政课教学的实效性。

In summary, since the “3·18” Important Speech, Xi Jinping’s important discourses have put forward new concepts and requirements for the construction of ideological-political courses. On the new journey of the New Era, to improve the teaching quality of ideological-political courses, it is necessary to further deeply study and understand Xi Jinping’s important discourses on ideological-political courses, transform course concepts, grasp the essence of ideological-political course teaching, follow the laws of ideological-political course teaching, stimulate students’ subjectivity, focus on teaching effectiveness, and realize the connotative development and quality improvement of ideological-political course teaching.

总之，“3·18”重要讲话以来，习近平总书记的重要论述为思政课建设提出新的理念和要求。新时代新征程，思政课提升教学质量，要进一步深入学习领会习近平总书记关于思政课的重要论述，转变课程观念、把握思政课教学的本质，遵循思政课教学规律、激发学生主体性、注重教学实效，实现思政课教学的内涵式发展和品质提升。

(Author’s brief introduction: She Shuanghao, Director of the Contemporary China Research Center of Wuhan University, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of the School of Marxism)

（作者简介：佘双好，武汉大学当代中国研究中心主任，马克思主义学院教授、博士生导师）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心