On February 9, the International Scientific and Practical Conference on “The Role of Universities in Regional Development,” jointly organized by Inner Mongolia Honder College of Arts and Sciences, Darkhan College (Mongolia), and Buryat State University (Russia), was grandly held at Darkhan College in Mongolia. The conference brought together education experts, scholars, and university faculty from China, Mongolia, and Russia to engage in in-depth discussions on core topics such as regional trends in educational development, education quality assessment systems, and the digital transformation of higher education. The event established a high-level international exchange platform for universities to serve regional socio-economic development. Faculty members Zhao Dongchen and Bao Xinzhe from the College’s Department of Education attended the conference and delivered academic presentations.  

Zhao Dongchen presented an academic report titled “A Study on the Professional Identity of Early Childhood Education Majors in the Context of Low Fertility Rates.” Grounded in the macro-social context of demographic change, the study focused on undergraduate students in preschool education programs at institutions in Inner Mongolia. Empirical analysis revealed a differentiated structure of professional identity among students, characterized by “high value recognition but low sustained commitment.” It clarified the intrinsic relationship between perceptions of a low-fertility environment and professional identity. The study proposed systematic strategies for cultivating university talent across four dimensions: optimizing curricula, strengthening career guidance, deepening practical teaching, and facilitating the dissemination of policy information. By integrating macro-demographic shifts with micro-level professional psychology, this research offers actionable pathways to address challenges in cultivating talent in preschool education and to promote the high-quality, connotative development of the preschool education sector.  

Bao Xinzhe presented an academic report titled “Research on the Education Quality Evaluation System of Private Higher Education Institutions in Inner Mongolia.” Focusing on private universities in Inner Mongolia, the study constructed a four-dimensional education quality assessment system covering curriculum education, faculty quality, university management and services, and overall educational satisfaction. It systematically analyzed the current state, challenges, and directions for improving the quality of education at private universities in Inner Mongolia. It proposed targeted strategies, including stimulating students’ intrinsic learning motivation, enhancing faculty teaching capabilities, improving the two-way mentor selection mechanism, and strengthening logistical and employment services. The findings provide valuable practical experience for private universities in Inner Mongolia to deepen connotative development, improve the quality of talent cultivation, and better serve regional economic and social development. They also serve as a reference model for the quality assessment and improvement of private higher education in other countries.  

During the conference, the two faculty members engaged in extensive exchanges with scholars and experts from various countries on common issues in regional education development, new pathways for international educational cooperation, and precise alignment between talent cultivation and employment. They shared research approaches and practical experiences.  

Looking ahead, the College will take this conference as an opportunity to continue deepening academic collaboration and educational cooperation with universities in China, Mongolia, and Russia, empowering regional development through educational research, and contributing Honder’s strength to international educational cooperation among China, Mongolia, and Russia.

翻译：王妮

编辑：高鑫