China Launches 2026 Youth Ideological Campaign at Top Science University

On September 6, 2026, Chinese authorities launched the 2026 "Writing Chapters of Youth Across the Motherland" ideological-political education event at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei. Jointly organized by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Education, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other state entities, the high-profile gathering brought together cyberspace regulators, provincial leaders, and prominent scientists. Officials emphasized using digital media and the achievements of top researchers to instill political commitment and guide youth toward national strategic objectives.

The gathering reflects Beijing's ongoing push to bridge ideological-political education with frontier scientific research. By staging this flagship online campaign at one of China's premier science institutions and featuring prominent physicists and technologists, authorities are actively leveraging the prestige of scientific achievement to reinforce political loyalty and steer elite youth talent into strategic tech sectors.

Chinese state authorities convened the 2026 "Writing Chapters of Youth Across the Motherland" ideological-political online theme campaign on the evening of September 6, 2026, at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, Anhui Province. The event was co-organized by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Education, People's Daily, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, and the Cyberspace Affairs Commission of the Anhui Provincial Party Committee. Official coverage from the Cyberspace Administration of China noted that the gathering aimed to implement leadership directives regarding "Da Si Zheng Ke" (Comprehensive Ideological and Political Courses) and national conferences on education, science, and technology. The roster of attendees underscored the campaign's institutional weight across propaganda, cyberspace regulation, regional governance, and academia. Prominent figures delivering remarks included Zhuang Rongwen, Vice Minister of the Central Publicity Department and Minister of the CAC; Liang Yanshun, Party Secretary of Anhui Province; Yu Shaoliang, President of People's Daily; and Hou Jianguo, President and Party Secretary of the CAS. Anhui Governor Wang Qingxian, Vice Minister of Education Xiong Sihao, and CAC Vice Minister Niu Yibing also attended, alongside USTC leadership and senior researchers. A notable feature of the event was the visible participation of China's scientific elite. Attendees included Chen Liquan, an academician of the Chinese Engineering Academy and recipient of the 2025 State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, alongside CAS academicians Pan Jianwei, Shi Yunyu, Zhao Zhengguo, Chen Xianhui, and Feng Donglai, as well as Wang Ji, a researcher from the National University of Defense Technology honored as a "Role Model of the Times." In his speech, Zhuang Rongwen outlined priorities for youth guidance, urging organizers to root instruction in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, publicize the contributions of senior and contemporary scientists, enrich high-quality digital content, and foster inter-agency collaboration. Anhui Party Chief Liang Yanshun emphasized making ideological courses engaging by drawing on the province's developmental progress as practical teaching material. Meanwhile, People's Daily head Yu Shaoliang recalled Xi Jinping's 2016 inspection of USTC, encouraging students to align their personal careers with national modernization and development priorities.