The School of Marxism is an academic school at Sias University. It is the school with ideological and political theory courses, as well as research institutes of Marxist Theory. The school consists of an Administrative Office, Archives Room, Department of Ideological and Political Education & Research, the Outline and Basic Teaching & Research Section, and the Situation and Policy Teaching & Research Section. It has 2 research institutes - the Center for the Theoretical Research on the Sinicization of Marxism, and the Research Institute of Party Construction in Private Universities.

Development Goals

Under the guidance of "Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Marxist Colleges" issued by the Ministry of Education, and centered on the development ideas of the university, the School of Marxism seeks to improve its teaching quality, scientific research level, and academic courses. The goal is to help Sias become a well-known university in China and a leading university in the province of Henan.

Faculty

The school has 30 teachers (full-time and part-time), including 8 professors, 9 associate professors, 9 lecturers, 4 teaching assistants, 2 Doctorate holders, 14 Master's degree holders, and 2 State Council designated experts. The faculty has teachers with an excellent political background, solid professional foundations, broad academic vision, rich teaching experience, and outstanding research achievements. Many teachers are well known in Henan for their Marxist theoretical research and Ideological & Political theory. They have won several provincial awards and titles.

Academic Courses

The school undertakes the teaching of Ideological & Political Theory courses and Health Education courses for students which include: An Introduction to the Basic Principles of Marxism; An Introduction to Mao Zedong Thought and the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics; Outline of Modern Chinese History; Ideological and Moral Cultivation and Legal Basis; 5 Ideological & Political courses on "Situation and Policy"; Health Education; Mental Health Education; Pedagogy; and Educational Psychology.

The course "Introduction to Mao Zedong Thought and the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" won the "Excellent Course" award from the Henan Department of Education in 2017. In August 2018, Zhang Di and Guo Weiwei, two teachers from the school won the first prize in the "Higher Education Group" and the third prize for "Micro Lesson Group" at the 22nd Education and Teaching Informatization Grand Prix and the 4th Information Technology & Curriculum Integration Course Competition, respectively. In October 2018, Associate Professor Li Bin and Associate Professor Wang Zifang won the first and second prizes at the "30th Provincial Ideological & Political Theory Course Awards", respectively. In November 2018, Zhang Jingrong won the 'Special Award at the "2018 Henan College Ideological & Political Theory Teachers' Training Skills Competition", organized by the Henan Provincial Communist Party Committee's College Working Committee and the Henan Department of Education. It is the highest honor won by a teacher at Sias (in teaching competitions) since the founding of Sias University.

Teaching Innovation

The School of Marxism promotes the reform of teaching in a "classroom revolution", and strives to implement this in ideological and political theory courses. It implements innovation in 'micro classes', MOOCs, flipped classrooms, hybrid teaching, and other modern methods to improve the ideological and political courses, while retaining traditional aspects of teaching such as being "teacher-centered", teaching-focused, with a unified narrative, yet being student-centered, with group discussions, prioritizing learning, and empirical teaching. The school also advocates and promotes the integration of online, offline, and classroom teaching, to enhance the appeal of ideological and political courses, so that they become courses that students genuinely enjoy and benefit from. At present, the college has 3 main courses: An Introduction to the Basic Principles of Marxism; An Introduction to Mao Zedong Thought and the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics; and Situation and Policy. The school has also implemented the Sakai and Fanya network teaching platforms. Other courses include Outline of Modern Chinese History; Ideological and Moral Cultivation and Legal Basis; Health Education; Mental Health Education; Pedagogy; and Educational Psychology. In December 2018, the "Outline and Basic Teaching & Research Section" was designated as a Qualified Grass-Roots Teaching Organization among colleges and universities in Henan.

Achievements in Scientific Research

The school has always given importance to and promoted scientific research. Teachers are encouraged to publish academic papers in high-level journals, undertake high-level scientific research projects, and win advanced scientific research awards. In the past 2 years, more than 120 papers have been published, including over 30 in renowned journals. The school has undertaken 94 projects at all levels, including 8 provincial-level projects and over 50 at the department level. Over 40 awards have been won, including 6 provincial-level awards.

School Culture

The school attaches great importance to the nurturing of culture. Guided by scientific theory and moral education, the goal is to nurture solid moral and benevolent ideals and beliefs in the school. It encourages teachers to achieve "moral excellence" through knowledge, practice, and unity.

Emblem, Flag, and Design of the School of Marxism

The emblem of the School of Marxism incorporates the "Mao Zedong Calligraphy Style". Mao Zedong was the first leader of the Communist Party of China who sinicized Marxism. His calligraphy style is used to reflect the success of Marxism in China and the Chinese characteristics of the School of Marxism.

The emblem also has the school's name in English, reflecting Sias University's international education and its East-meets-West educational philosophy. The design in the emblem combines the letter 'M', for Marxism, with books. The emblem is red and white. The red represents the revolutionary and critical nature of Marxism; and the white represents inclusiveness, openness, and purity.

The red background in the school's flag represents the revolutionary characteristics of Marxism. It has the name of the university and the name of the school in the Mao Zedong Calligraphy Style.

Leadership

Dean - Guo Xuede

Deputy Party Secretary - Liu Dongwei

Departments

Department of Ideological and Political Education & Research

Outline and Basic Teaching & Research Section

Situation and Policy Teaching & Research Section

Research Institutes

Center for the Theoretical Research on the Sinicization of Marxism

Research Institute of Party Construction in Private Universities