From the perspective of directional sergeant training

Research on enhancing the effectiveness of ideological and political courses in higher vocational colleges

Zhao Fang Zhang Sini

【Abstract】Taking the effectiveness of ideological and political courses in higher vocational colleges as the research object, this study focuses on the practical needs of fulfilling the fundamental task of moral education and cultivating outstanding military personnel for the new era. It directly addresses the real challenges in the construction of ideological and political courses for military students, such as the lack of targeted teaching content and the limited variety of teaching methods. By reconstructing teaching content to enhance students' theoretical understanding, enriching teaching forms to strengthen students' emotional identification, integrating stage management to shape students' value concepts, and innovating practical carriers to guide students in self-conscious practice, this study explores and forms a targeted and applicable teaching paradigm for ideological and political courses for directional military personnel.

【Keywords】Directed Military Officers | Ideological and Political Courses | Effectiveness

Marx said, "As long as a theory convinces people, it can grasp the masses; and as long as a theory is thorough, it can convince people." The focal point of deepening the reform and innovation of ideological and political courses in the new era is to make "ideological and political courses more appealing and infectious, more targeted and effective," using thorough truths to convince people. Directed military officers are a special group that vocational colleges' ideological and political courses are aimed at. They possess the general characteristics of young students in the new era and also need to meet the special requirements of shouldering the strong military dream in the new era. With the rise of civil-military integration to the status of a national strategy, the importance of military officer talent cultivation has further emerged. Relying fully on the main position of ideological and political courses for cultivating morality and fostering people, the urgency of strengthening the ideal and belief education for directed military officer students has further increased. How to deepen the reform of ideological and political course teaching for directed military officers has always been an important proposition for jointly cultivating outstanding military officer talents by both the military and civilian sectors.

Currently, research on the reform and innovation of ideological and political education for targeted military personnel focuses on three main aspects. Firstly, it explores the educational strategies, training models, and professional teaching paradigms for targeted military personnel from a pedagogical perspective. Secondly, it investigates the pathways for developing targeted military personnel, examining theoretical and practical approaches through the lens of the "Three Teachings" reform and the construction of the "Three Comprehensives" education system. Thirdly, it addresses the ideological and political literacy of targeted military personnel, using collectivism and patriotism as entry points, and proposes flexible educational guidance to help students establish firm ideals and beliefs. President Xi Jinping emphasized, "No matter how the combination of strategies is implemented, the ultimate goal is to make ideological and political education more relatable, impactful, targeted, and effective." The ultimate success of the reform and innovation in ideological and political education for targeted military personnel must be measured by the enhancement of the course's effectiveness and the improvement in the quality of targeted military personnel training. This paper adopts a problem-oriented approach, focusing on both theoretical exploration and teaching practice from a holistic and systematic perspective, and conducts research on the effectiveness of vocational ideological and political education from the viewpoint of targeted military personnel training. It aims to provide theoretical references for innovating the teaching of ideological and political courses for military students and promoting the reform and innovation of vocational college ideological and political education.

I. Realistic Challenges in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Ideological and Political Courses in Higher Vocational Colleges from the Perspective of Directed Non-Commissioned Officer Training

Under the framework of jointly cultivating targeted military personnel, how to carry out ideological and political education for targeted military cadets is a key area of cooperation between the military and civilian sectors. The main responsibility of ideological and political theory courses in enhancing the effectiveness of educational outcomes has become an important proposition for higher vocational institutions to continuously deepen the reform and innovation of ideological and political courses.

(1) The universal model of ideological and political education in class cannot meet the needs of cultivating "four-capable" soldiers in the era of "four-capable".

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has placed great emphasis on the construction of ideological and political courses in higher education institutions, emphasizing the enhancement of the attractiveness, persuasiveness, and infectivity of these courses through the improvement of the textbook system, the enhancement of teacher quality, and the refinement of teaching methods. Currently, the teaching model for ideological and political courses for targeted military officers primarily relies on classroom instruction, supplemented by practical teaching related to the courses. This model generally follows the integration of theory and practice commonly implemented in vocational colleges, exhibiting common and universal characteristics. First, the teaching objectives of ideological and political courses in vocational colleges do not accurately align with the needs of the military, leading to issues such as "culture shock" and inadequate understanding of military values among military officer students upon entering the military, with some students unable to actively integrate into military life from a political and ideological perspective. Second, the teaching methods are rigid, with classroom theoretical instruction still dominating in the ideological and political courses for targeted military officers in vocational colleges, while practical teaching occupies a relatively small proportion, resulting in inconspicuous teaching effectiveness and outstanding educational achievements. Third, ideological and political course teachers generally lack specialized knowledge related to the military, leading to imprecise grasp of the teaching focus for military officer talents. Therefore, to ensure that the reform and innovation of ideological and political courses for targeted military officers achieve new practical results, it is necessary to start from the actual needs of talent cultivation, dare to break through conventional teaching models, and construct a teaching model for targeted military officers that unifies indoctrination with inspiration and theory with practice.

(2) Homogenized ideological and political education content cannot meet the strong military requirements of the new era.

The "Outline for Ideological and Political Education of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" states that the primary task of ideological and political education is to cultivate the core values of contemporary revolutionary soldiers, which are "loyalty to the Party, love for the people, service to the nation, dedication to the mission, and reverence for honor." Analysis of existing research indicates that vocational colleges' ideological and political courses are relatively lacking in exploring how to integrate military realities into their teaching organization. To cultivate the sense of responsibility and commitment among military cadets through ideological and political courses, it is necessary to update the cadets' textbooks, optimize the ideological and political teaching system, and focus on strengthening their ideals and revolutionary will. This requires us to emphasize the cultivation of students' comprehensive qualities in ideological and political education, adhering to Xi Jinping's thoughts on strengthening the military, and focusing on developing students' moral integrity, cultural literacy, and discipline. In the selection of teaching content, more elements of military history and warfare can be incorporated to guide students in understanding the glorious traditions and drawing strength for military development from the revolutionary history of the People's Army, which grew from small to large, from weak to strong, and from trials to glory. This approach aims to inspire historical honor and contemporary responsibility, aligning with the original intent of cultivating targeted military cadet talents, and truly fostering high-quality military cadet talents who are disciplined, spirited, and virtuous.

(3) The regular methods of ideological and political education in the classroom are not sufficient to meet the needs of cultivating targeted military personnel.

习近平总书记强调，“青年的价值取向决定了未来整个社会的价值取向，而青年又处于价值观形成和确立的时期，抓好这一时期的价值观养成十分重要”。思政课教学方法的改革创新，不仅是高校思想政治工作的内在要求，更顺应了当代大学生青年马克思主义信仰培育的新特征。新形势下，高职院校定向军士的思政课教学方法呈现以下特点：一是教学形式相对固化，侧重于遵循统一的思政课教学要求，忽视了理念建构，思政课堂效果很难实现预期的目标；二是教学形式的创新动力不足，在平衡思政课教学、技能教学、体能教学的三维视角下，思政课教学更偏重理论教学，多样化的教学方法运用不够灵活；三是现有的思政课教学评价体系没有突显军士人才培养特色，对思政课教学在军士人才培养中的定位、功能定位不够明确，评价系统需要进一步优化。定向军士思政课教学改革旨在体现高校思政课的育人功能的同时，又彰显军士人才培养的显著特色；既凸显以理服人的思想性与理论性，又要彰显以德育人的价值性与引导性。

II. The Connotation and Implication of Enhancing the Effectiveness of Ideological and Political Courses in Higher Vocational Colleges from the Perspective of Directed Non-Commissioned Officer Training

Enhancing the effectiveness of ideological and political courses in higher vocational colleges from the perspective of directed non-commissioned officer training holds significant theoretical and practical importance. It aligns with the new demands placed on ideological and political education in universities under the context of building an education powerhouse and a military powerhouse, and it is also the proper course of action to transform the current state of ideological and political classrooms and overcome teaching challenges.

(1) It is the essential requirement to implement the fundamental task of cultivating virtue and educating people.

年月，习近平总书记在新疆大学考察调研时指出：“育人的根本在于立德。要坚持社会主义办学方向，培养德智体美劳全面发展的社会主义建设者和接班人”。立德树人的价值旨归是培养具有坚定马克思主义信仰的社会主义建设者和接班人。当前国家正处于深度开放的国际环境与多元文化交织的新时代背景之中，国内网络“去中心化”的舆论环境，使各种碎片化、泛娱乐化、亚文化等信息泛滥，历史虚无主义抬头，动摇和削弱爱国主义教育内容中政治信仰和国家认同，复杂的国内外形势及其带来的风险挑战使加强新时代高校思想政治教育工作的现实需要更加迫切。定向军士培养是高职院校人才培养的重要组成部分，培养的是担当强军重任的时代新人，作为落实立德树人根本任务的关键课程，思政课对此责无旁贷。着力提升高职院校定向军士思政课实效性，不仅事关高校的中国特色社会主义办学性质和方向、事关守好高校意识形态前沿阵地、事关培育担当民族复兴大任的时代新人，更事关军士学员保家卫国使命感、责任感的塑造，事关军队凝聚力和战斗力的进一步提升。

(2) Is the intrinsic requirement for deepening the reform and innovation of ideological and political courses in the new era.

党的十八大以来，习近平总书记立足党的事业后继有人的工作全局，围绕如何加强新时代思政课建设发表一系列重要讲话、作出一系列重要指示批示。在关键环节方面，强调“办好思想政治理论课关键在教师，关键在发挥教师的积极性、主动性、创造性”等。习近平总书记关于新时代思政课建设的系列重要论述，为深化新时代思政课改革创新提供政治前提，也为定向军士思政课改革创新提供基本遵循。定向军士生是高职院校思政课建设面向的重要群体，兼具学生与准军人双重身份特征，作为新时代的建设者与亲历者，如何激发定向军士将自己的个人理想融入社会主义共同理想，是新时代思政课教师的时代之责。

(III) It is an objective necessity to cultivate revolutionary soldiers in the new era.

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党的二十大报告强调，“如期实现建军一百年奋斗目标，加快把人民军队建成世界一流军队，是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的战略要求”。面对强国强军的时代要求，必须不断加强定向军士学生的思想政治教育，牢固确立习近平强军思想在国防和军队建设中的指导地位。面对当前复杂多变的国内外形势，我们党提出要培养“有灵魂、有本事、有血性、有品德”的“四有”新时代革命军人。“四有”军人的基本政治前提是听党指挥，忠诚于党和人民的革命事业。习近平总书记在纪念红军长征胜利周年大会上指出：“强国必须强军，军强才能国安。要紧紧扭住政治建军不放松，坚持党对军队的绝对领导，永葆人民军队性质、宗旨、本色，永远做红军的传人，着力培养有灵魂、有本事、有血性、有品德的新一代革命军人，努力锻造具有铁一般信仰、铁一般信念、铁一般纪律、铁一般担当的过硬部队”。高校思政课是以理想信念教育为中心，厚植爱国主义情怀，引导学生始终坚定听党话、跟党走的坚定信仰。以思政课为主阵地加强马克思主义信仰培育，系统灌输马克思主义中国化的理论成果、党的政治主张、理论观点，更有利于定向军士学员的成长成才，帮助他们从一名学生迅速成长为讲政治、有立场的合格军人。

III. Practical Pathways to Enhance the Effectiveness of Ideological and Political Courses in Higher Vocational Colleges from the Perspective of Directed Non-Commissioned Officer Training

Lenin once said, "Practice is superior to (theoretical) cognition because it not only possesses the quality of universality, but also the quality of direct reality." The specific paths to enhance the effectiveness of ideological and political courses can ultimately only be constructed, realized, and tested in the vivid practice of cultivating targeted military personnel.

(1) Knowledge: Enhancing theoretical cognition of targeted military officers through the reconstruction of ideological and political education content

Gaining a correct theoretical understanding of Marxism is the fundamental prerequisite for shaping the excellent political character of targeted non-commissioned officers. To enhance the effectiveness of ideological and political education for targeted non-commissioned officers in higher vocational colleges, it is essential to follow the Party's goal of strengthening the military in the new era, and to elevate the theoretical level of targeted non-commissioned officers by reconstructing the content of ideological and political courses. On one hand, in line with the needs of cultivating targeted non-commissioned officers, integrate Xi Jinping's thought on strengthening the military, the culture of the red revolution, and the core values of the new era's military into the ideological and political curriculum. Xi Jinping's thought on strengthening the military is an integral part of Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and it proposes the era mission and strategic goals of strengthening the military based on the inheritance of Mao Zedong's military thought. Integrating Xi Jinping's thought on strengthening the military into the ideological and political classroom is the essential requirement for cultivating revolutionary soldiers with the "four haves" in the new era, and it is also a concrete manifestation of using Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge souls and educate people among the targeted non-commissioned officer group. The culture of the red revolution and the core values of the new era's military are the spiritual sources for the value formation of targeted non-commissioned officers. Through revolutionary history education and the cultivation of core values, it helps military cadets establish a sense of mission belonging at the behavioral and conceptual levels, and subsequently form identity, belief, and emotional attachment at the value level. On the other hand, it is necessary to combine the interests and orientations of non-commissioned officers in the new era, face real-world issues and students' concerns, respond to students' ideological confusions and doubts with thorough theoretical weapons, and balance the value and knowledge aspects of ideological and political courses through the reconstruction and reorganization of the ideological and political education system.

(II) Emotion: Enhancing the emotional identification of targeted military recruits through enriching the teaching methods of ideological and political courses

Innovating classroom teaching methods, on one hand, introduces diverse teaching techniques such as virtual simulation and education into the classroom, innovating teaching methods to enhance the flexibility and transcendence of classroom teaching, guiding students to explore the power of spirit, and achieving spiritual resonance from the natural generation of spiritual and emotional logic. On the other hand, it introduces diverse teaching methods such as group discussions and case studies into the classroom, scientifically setting course segments to progressively transform learning into inquiry, embed knowledge within emotions, and turn teaching into guidance, fully stimulating students' cognitive intrinsic motivation. Firstly, it introduces the concepts of the internet and information technology into the ideological and political education of targeted military cadets, using virtual simulation, the internet, and new media platforms to recreate scenes of revolutionary historical resources, allowing students to personally "experience" red culture, understand historical figures, and receive cultural baptism. Secondly, through teachers' guidance, inspiration, and education, it employs a blended online and offline teaching model and comprehensive teaching methods to mobilize students' intrinsic motivation for autonomous learning, conscious thinking, and spontaneous practice, using vividness and richness to stimulate students' interest and participation in ideological and political education. Thirdly, it conducts theoretical discussions based on the confusion and vague understandings of military cadets. Upholding the dialectical unity of constructiveness and criticality is an important principle for strengthening the construction of ideological and political courses in universities. It is necessary to both defend the main positions and channels for the dissemination of Marxist theory and thoroughly critique erroneous social trends and viewpoints, helping students to correctly view, dialectically understand, and rationally analyze real-world issues, and to cultivate students' Marxist stance, viewpoints, and methods through answering these real-world questions.

(III) Meaning: Shaping the value concepts of targeted military officers through integrated management of ideological and political course stages

Integrating the content of the main ideological and political courses, the actual content of textbooks at different educational stages, and the content of various ideological and political courses within the same educational stage, research and practice on the teaching materials, academic discourse, and presentation forms for targeted military officers are conducted. Through the integrated design of ideological and political courses at different educational stages, the value and character of military officer students are gradually shaped. Firstly, consistency in teaching objectives is maintained. Although ideological and political courses at different educational stages inevitably have their own characteristics and requirements, their teaching objectives are consistent, reflecting the directional requirements of ideological and political education for targeted military officers, which is to cultivate revolutionary soldiers of the new era who are "soulful, capable, spirited, and virtuous." By adhering to the goal-oriented approach, the positioning of ideological and political education for targeted military officers is accurately defined, and on this basis, course objectives and teaching objectives are coordinated, with phased teaching requirements refined to ensure alignment throughout all teaching stages and processes. Secondly, precision in teaching content is emphasized. Teaching content is the core of ideological and political education for targeted military officers. How to scientifically organize teaching content for students at different educational stages is a top priority in the reform and innovation of ideological and political education for military officers. Starting from the main textbooks of ideological and political courses, an overall design is conducted according to principles of continuity, chronology, and systematicness, integrating the characteristics of targeted military officer training to build a logically rigorous, vivid in case studies, and tightly connected teaching content system. Thirdly, effectiveness in teaching design is upheld. Problem-oriented approaches are adopted, linking teaching content across semesters and educational stages through problem chains, emphasizing inquiry-based and seminar-style learning with students as the main body, stimulating students' initiative and enthusiasm in theoretical learning. Traditional teacher-centered teaching designs are transformed into discussion-centered designs, guiding military officer students to establish correct values through inquiry-based learning.

(IV) Practice: Guiding the conscious practice of targeted military officers through innovative ideological and political education practice carriers

Focusing on the theme of strengthening the military and rejuvenating the nation, enrich the construction of practical teaching bases for ideological and political education (IPCE) courses, and improve the practical teaching system of IPCE courses, including research-based learning, to effectively enhance the effectiveness of IPCE in nurturing talents. Firstly, clearly define the practical teaching plan for IPCE courses for directional military officers. In conjunction with the IPCE curriculum guidelines, develop practical teaching plans for the main courses of IPCE, specifying the objectives, content and forms, basic requirements, management methods, and assessment methods of practical teaching. Secondly, improve the content of IPCE practical teaching. Explore practical teaching resources for IPCE by combining course content and professional backgrounds, identify entry points for integrating the culture of the Red Revolution and the history of the People's Army into IPCE practical teaching, enrich the content of IPCE practical teaching, and form an educational mainline, highlighting the pertinence, affinity, and effectiveness of IPCE practical teaching. Thirdly, integrate practical teaching resources for IPCE for directional military officers. On one hand, integrate on-campus resources, gathering educational resources from teaching, research, management, and service departments to promote alignment between various courses and IPCE; on the other hand, integrate social resources, strengthen cooperation with patriotic education bases, traditional culture education bases, national defense education bases, and Red Culture teaching bases, establish IPCE practical teaching bases, and guide directional military officer students to firmly believe in the "Four Confidences," becoming revolutionary soldiers of the new era who are loyal to the Party, firm in faith, and dedicated to their mission.

IV. Conclusion

Firmly holding the main position of moral education, persisting in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to shape the soul and the Party's innovative theories to cultivate the spirit, is the essential path to cultivating a high level of theoretical, institutional, road, and cultural confidence among the younger generation. It is also the essential path to nurturing new generations who are capable of shouldering the great task of national rejuvenation. With the continuous deepening of ideological and political course reform and innovation in the new era, higher vocational colleges are continuously advancing their exploration of the effectiveness of ideological and political courses. At the same time, as the integration of military and civilian sectors has been elevated to a national strategy, the importance of military personnel training has further emerged. It is increasingly urgent to fully leverage the main position of ideological and political courses and strengthen the education of ideal and belief among targeted military students. It is necessary to deeply grasp the new characteristics, trends, and requirements of ideological and political education for targeted military personnel in higher vocational colleges in the new era, adhering to the combination of problem orientation and goal orientation, following the objective laws of ideological and political course construction and the growth laws of targeted military personnel, and starting from aspects such as teaching models, content, and methods, comprehensively enhance the ideological and political theoretical literacy of targeted military personnel, achieving the dialectical unity of knowledge, emotion, will, and action.

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Editor of this issue: Chen Luyang

This issue reviewed by: Lin Yingxi

Layout Design: Zhou Kaikai

Article Source: "China Military-to-Civilian Magazine"

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