Inspectors from China¡¯s Communist Party have?admonished the country¡¯s leading universities for weaknesses in students¡¯ ideological education.

The warning came after a two-month inspection of the Ministry of Education and 31 ÖйúAƬ institutions, including Peking, Tsinghua and Fudan universities, and Renmin University of China.

According to an official?, ¡°insufficient efforts¡± or ¡°weak links¡± were found in all inspected organisations relating to ¡°ideological work¡±. Leaders of these institutions were briefed about their problems in ¡°one to one¡± sessions with inspectors.

Peking University was told that there were ¡°insufficient efforts in ideological and political work¡±. Tsinghua was warned of "gaps in the ideological work¡± and lack of ¡°risk prevention¡±. Even the Ministry of Education was urged to ¡°study deeply and systematically about [Chinese president] Xi Jinping¡¯s thoughts on education¡± and warned of a ¡°blind spot¡± in its supervision of universities.

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¡°There is a general tightening of control over thinking in recent years,¡± Steve Tsang, director of SOAS China Institute, told Times ÖйúAƬ. ¡°Education is a key means for thought control and for ideological indoctrination.¡±

The Communist Party inspections started in mid-May and saw inspectors visit campuses and call for reports of any ¡°violation of disciplines¡±.

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The inspectors¡¯ feedback also raised concerns about failures in leadership, corruption problems in research and excessive bureaucracy.

Mr Xi has handed universities a key role in indoctrinating the country¡¯s youth with party ideology in recent years and has clamped down on freedom of thought. Dozens of ¡°Xi thought¡± research institutes have been established, while party-appointed secretaries have played increasingly significant roles on campuses. A number of universities have set up teachers¡¯ affairs departments under their party committees to improve lecturers¡¯ ideological activities.

¡°Why would we not expect Xi to require schools and the education establishment generally to toe the line he has laid down since 2017?¡± Professor Tsang said.

karen.liu@timeshighereducation.com