A Study On The First-Class Universities’ Individualized Cultivation Mode

By cultivating innovative talents to carry out innovation strategy is the consensus of countries around the world in knowledge economy era. First-class universities is an important base for cultivating innovative talents, first-class universities’undergraduate education hold fundamental position in cultivating innovative talents. To improve first-class universities’undergraduate education quality, we must reform and innovate their undergraduate cultivation mode. In recent years, the first-class universities’ education quality has been criticized and questioned more and more. Qian Xue-sen once profoundly pointed out that:"why our schools can’t develop outstanding talents? One important reason is that no college or university follows the science and technology innovative talents cultivation mode." With our nation’s increasing efforts in undergraduate cultivation mode reform, especially first-class universities recognize that education only by promoting the harmonious development of individuality can truly promote social development. Many first-class universities begin to actively explore constructing individualized cultivation mode, in this context, carrying out research on first-class universities’ individualized cultivation mode, has important theoretical value and practical significance. This paper will follow the path of "related research review—theory construction-comparative research—current situation analysis—solutions discussing—summary and prospect", including seven parts:introduction, theoretical discussing, comparative study, current situation analysis, problems and reasons analysis, suggestions, conclusions.In introduction part, this paper will describe the background and significance of this research, present the related research review and research starting point, introduce the research perspective and research methods, elaborate the research path and framework. Through the related research review, we should strengthen the research of individualized cultivation mode from four aspects:first, we should adjust research orientation; second, strengthen comprehensive study; third, reinforce theoretical construction; fourth, make theoretical analysis and empirical research closely integrated. Therefore, this paper will strengthen the theoretical study, use comparative perspectives and multiple research methods, especially focus on the use of sociological investigation method, to accurately grasp the current situation of our first-class universities’individualized cultivation mode reform.In theoretical discussing part, first we will define the core concepts such as:first-class university, individuality and individualized, cultivation mode, individualized cultivation mode. We think that individualized cultivation mode is a theory model and operation pattern which consists of a number of components, it’s designed under certain education idea and cultivation systems, and the main function is to improve students’uniqueness、subjectivity、creativity and harmony. Universities’ individualized cultivation mode has the following eight elements:cultivating idea、major setting mode、curriculum setting mode、teaching system、teaching organization form、teaching management mode、hidden curriculum form、teaching and learning evaluation method. Then explains the main theory basis of this research, which is multiple intelligences theory, individuality development theory and higher education shunting theory. Finally analyze the significance of our first-class universities’ constructing individualized cultivation mode:the important way to improve the higher education’s quality and achieve talents-based country development; the core link to improve talent cultivation quality and promote university development; the key measure to fulfill people-oriented idea and promote the development of students’ individuality.In comparative study part, this research will select eight foreign first-class universities, from the eight consisting elements, analyze the main characteristics and common innovation experiences of their individualized cultivation mode. The common experiences are:pay attention to renew the cultivating idea, emphasize cultivating creativity; improve major setting mode, strengthen the uniqueness development; constantly improve curriculum setting mode, promote the free development of individuality; focus on the teaching system reform, aim the overall development of individuality; innovate the teaching organization form, boost the subjectivity upgrade; reform the teaching management mode, adapt to individuality development needs; pay attention to nurture hidden curriculum form, promote the harmonious development of individuality; focus on improving teaching and learning evaluation method, guide the overall development of individuality.In current situation analysis part, we will choose four fist-class universities’ individualized cultivation mode to investigate. First introduce the purpose、significance、object and method of the investigation, then analyze the investigation results and summarize the features of four kinds cultivation mode. And analyze the questionnaire survey of two modes.In problems and reasons analysis part, based on the investigation results, we think the main problems of our individualized cultivation mode are:the function of cultivating idea being weaken; major setting mode need to be improved; curriculum setting mode is not reasonable; teaching system need to be completed; teaching organization form facing innovation; teaching management mode is too stiffness; hidden curriculum form is inefficient; teaching and learning evaluation method need to be reformed. Causes of the problems are:the influence of traditional culture; the restriction of fundamental education; the long-standing problems of higher education.In suggestions part, the countermeasures are divided into two levels:First our country should strengthen the macro adjustment of universities’ cultivation, the specific measures including:exert higher education’s cultural functions, let first-class universities actively leading cultural innovation; adjust the value orientation of higher education, pay more attention to promote students’ individuality development; make cultivation top-level design, guide first-class universities construct individualized cultivation mode; reform higher education management system, promote first-class universities formation of individualized cultivation mode. Second, first-class universities should continue push forward the reform:refine the cultivating idea, highlight the cultivation of college students’ individuality; improve the major setting mode, adapt to college students’ individuality; optimize the curriculum setting mode, focus on individuality development; complete teaching system, promote individuality development; reform the teaching organization form, upgrading the subjectivity; innovate the teaching management mode, serve individuality development; strengthen the construction of hidden curriculum, cultivate harmonious individuality; reform the teaching and learning evaluation method, focus on creativity.In conclusions part, mainly summarize and forecast the whole research. This study may be innovative in the following four aspects:first, the topic is innovative; second, the theoretical framework; third, the comparative study; fourth, the status research. Also, this study at least has three shortcomings:first, the object of the investigation is not sufficient and wide enough; second, the reason analysis needs to be deeper; third, the discussion of the countermeasures needs to be strengthened.