How China’s Universities Are Redesigning Big Data Education: Insights from the 2nd Virtual Research Meeting

The Ministry of Education’s “Data Science Curriculum Group” virtual research office held its second working meeting in Beijing, focusing on a new model for “Big Data Application Technology” course design.

The meeting was led by Northeast Normal University, hosted by Minzu University of China, and co‑organized with Tongji University, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing Language and Culture University, Anhui Medical University, Higher Education Press and Huawei Technologies, with nearly 100 participants both online and offline.

Prof. Weng Yu (Minzu University) chaired the meeting, and Deputy Director Ma Yingjun of the university’s Academic Affairs Office delivered opening remarks, thanking Huawei and the press for their support and emphasizing that the virtual research office helps promote the “Big Data Technology and Application” course with Chinese characteristics.

Prof. Li Yanling (Northeast Normal University) presented a keynote on “Big Data Technology and Application Course Construction and Practice”, outlining the course concept, objectives, content, case studies, and the joint big‑data lab built with Huawei.

Huawei Cloud’s Director Xu Yangyang described how Huawei Cloud Developer Academy supports industry‑education integration, offering a “teach‑learn‑practice‑exam‑certify” ecosystem to help universities build digital teaching and research platforms.

Prof. Gui Xiaolin (Xi’an Jiaotong University) gave a report on “First‑Class Course Construction Oriented to Course Objectives”, providing demonstration courses, evaluation measures and quantitative standards for high‑quality curriculum development.

Prof. Weng Yu presented “School‑Enterprise Integrated ‘Big Data Technology and Application’ Course Design”, detailing hybrid online‑offline teaching and the creative transformation of the virtual research office’s data resources.

Prof. Sun Lijun (Tongji University) shared “Big Data Technology and Application Course Construction Aimed at Improving Application Ability”, receiving positive feedback for innovative teaching design.

Prof. Song Guoqiang (Anhui Medical University) discussed “Big Data Management and Application in Medicine” and talent cultivation in the medical field.

Prof. Li Jimmei (Beijing Language and Culture University) reported on “Online Game‑Based Training for Big Data Visualization”, describing teaching practice aligned with the university’s context.

Professors Wang Yizhi and Zhou Wei from Beijing Jiaotong University joined to discuss big‑data technology trends under the New Engineering background, sharing cases and academic viewpoints, which elevated the meeting’s impact.

The meeting clarified the talent‑training goals for big‑data professionals, advanced an open, collaborative virtual research organization, and accumulated valuable experience for industry‑education integration and school‑enterprise co‑cultivation.