The National Science and Technology Courtyard Conference for 2024 was held in Dali City, Yunnan Province on May 7th and 8th. Representatives from over 130 universities across the country that have established science and technology courtyards gathered together to discuss the development of these courtyards.
Guo Xin, Executive Vice Dean of the Graduate School of China Agricultural University, provided a detailed interpretation of the "National Development Report on Science and Technology Small Courtyards (2024)." Image courtesy of China Agricultural University.
The Achievements Exhibition of Science and Technology Small Courtyards. Image provided by China Agricultural University.
At the event, Lin Wanlong, Vice President of China Agricultural University and Deputy Director of the National Agricultural Education Steering Committee, released the "Report on the Development of National Science and Technology Small Courtyards (2024) - Solving Livelihood Issues, Cultivating Knowledge, and Nurturing Talents" (hereinafter referred to as the report). The report summarized the history and achievements of the small courtyards in five aspects: the origin of the initial intention, development process, construction effectiveness, construction model, and future prospects, proposing future development directions.
The report pointed out that since the establishment of the first science and technology small courtyard in 2009, it has developed to include thousands of small courtyards focusing on industrial characteristics, food security, green development, and promoting comprehensive rural revitalization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas. More and more universities, research institutes, government departments, enterprises, and social service organizations have joined the construction of science and technology small courtyards, showing distinct characteristics such as rapid development, strong service capabilities, and diverse participants.
Currently, 157 graduate training units across the country are actively involved, leading the construction of over 1800 science and technology small courtyards, covering 31 provinces and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Over 2,700 graduate supervisors, industry experts, and more than 10,000 graduate students have been involved in the construction and operation of science and technology small courtyards, providing a place for graduate students to have a "zero-distance" understanding and firsthand experience of rural life challenges.
From the participatory technology innovation service model of version 1.0, to the full industrial chain empowerment model of version 2.0, and further upgrading to the multifunctional integrated model promoting rural revitalization of version 3.0, the model of science and technology small courtyards has gradually matured. Today, the small courtyards have advanced to version 3.0+, promoting local industries, talents, culture, ecology, and organizational revitalization through the science and technology small courtyard cluster, innovating the ecological industrialization and industrial ecology coordination mechanism.
In the process of solving livelihood issues and cultivating knowledge, science and technology small courtyards have nurtured talents, creating a broad path that tightly integrates teaching and educating, fieldwork and classroom learning, theory and practice, research and extension, innovation and service, rooted in the Chinese land to educate people for the Party and the country, and innovating a new talent training system focusing on green agricultural development.
China Agricultural University has established a four-stage progression of "Village Immersion - Knowledge Expansion - Small Courtyard Practical Training - Comprehensive Enhancement," comprehensively enhancing graduate students' feelings towards rural areas, professional knowledge, research capabilities, comprehensive literacy, and entrepreneurial spirit, realizing a new talent training model of holistic development.
Relying on the science and technology small courtyard platform, Henan Agricultural University and Yunnan University have innovated new systems for integrated undergraduate and postgraduate education, and a new talent training model for rural revitalization driven by the four rounds of "rural areas, practical teaching, innovation and entrepreneurship, and teacher-student collaboration."
The science and technology small courtyards encourage students to participate in the promotion and application of agricultural green production technologies and agricultural inputs in various roles such as technicians and technology envoys. At the same time, they have built a model of practical education that integrates the "Science and Education Expert Network (National Alliance of Science and Technology Small Courtyards for Graduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education), Government Promotion Network (China Agricultural Technology Association Science and Technology Small Courtyard Alliance), School-Enterprise Cooperation Network, and International Collaboration Network," providing good conditions and guarantees for graduate innovation and entrepreneurship.
It was also announced at the event the establishment of the New Great Wall Science and Technology Small Courtyard Assistance Program, the selection of multiple typical cases of work in science and technology small courtyards, and the appointment of 10 teachers as experts in the second National Science and Technology Small Courtyard Lecturer Team.
The National Science and Technology Small Courtyard Conference in 2024 is hosted by the National Committee for Graduate Education in Agricultural Professions, organized by China Agricultural University, and co-organized by the Education Department of Yunnan Province, the People's Government of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and Yunnan Agricultural University.
