The conference for 2017 newly-added Doctoral and Master’s degree programs held on the morning of April 13 was chaired by Prof. Tao Tao, executive dean of XMU Graduate School. About 100 people attended this conference. They are deans from 16 colleges, vice deans in charge of graduate education, relevant professors, teaching secretaries and secretaries for scientific research.

      Prof. Tao Tao first gave a comprehensive introduction to the audit work of 2017 newly-added Doctoral and Master’s degree programs, and a detailed interpretation of “Audit Procedures of Doctoral and Master’s Degree Authorization” and “Notice on the Audit Work of Doctoral and Master’s Degree Authorization 2017” issued recently by Academic Degree Office of the State Council. He demanded that all colleges should highly value, carefully organize and complete the application work of 2017 newly-added doctoral and master’s degree programs.

      He also briefly introduced the current situation and recent assessment of Doctoral and Master’s degree programs. He said that XMU had accomplished the special assessment of 19 disciplines, the fourth round national discipline-level assessment of 52 disciplines, the first national professional degree assessment of 5 degrees and the assessment of 73 degree programs. Such assessments could facilitate and promote XMUers to build a high-level university, give a clearer picture of the development of various disciplines, and guarantee the quality of graduate education and degree. He stressed that different colleges should continue to improve pedagogical methods, pay closer attention to the quality of graduate education, standardize the management of students and show zero tolerance to academic misconduct, so as to guarantee the quality of graduate degrees.

      He pointed out that XMU always established disciplines by adhering to national strategies and the law of social and economic development to ensure the quality of graduate education, which was in line with the requirements of “The Thirteenth Five-Year Plan for Degree and Graduate Education Development” issued by the Ministry of Education and Academic Degree Office of the State Council — “Education should be demand- and quality-oriented while optimizing discipline structures and pedagogical methods.”

      He then explained the application procedure and requirements of 2017 newly-added degree programs. The graduate education development should be supported and promoted in compliance with laws and regulations to serve the goal of achieving a demand- and quality-oriented education. To this end, he asked all colleges to fully implement national education policies, and focus on regional development strategies and social and economic growth. He said that the Graduate School would fully support and actively cooperate to accomplish the application work.

      At the conference, teachers from different colleges exchanged ideas about the application work of newly-added degree programs, and discussed in detail the application policies, requirements and form-filling issues.

      At present, XMU has Doctoral or Master’s degrees in 11 disciplines, i.e., philosophy, history, economics, law, education, literature, science, engineering, medicine, management and art, including 31 Doctoral degrees in first-level disciplines and 5 in second-level disciplines, and 50 Master degrees in first-level disciplines and 5 in second-level disciplines. It also has 9 cross-discipline subjects, 1 Doctoral program and 23 Master’s programs.