The National Awards for Teaching Achievements in Higher Education which occur every four years, were unveiled on Thursday in Beijing at the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Deputy director Liu Fengtai of the Department of Higher Education under MOE said that 495 projects from 68 colleges and universities covering a range of fields including arts, science, agriculture, engineering, medicine, social science, economics and occupational training won the prizes at different levels. Among those the College of Mathematics of Peking University and the No.4 PLA Medical University won the two most prestigious prizes for their outstanding performances.

Liu added that the other prize-winning projects ranged from teaching reforms in the course of Deng Xiaoping Theory to innovations in MBA training courses. Some projects produced results that would directly benefit the growth of the Chinese national economy, like a teaching program on power stations management, while other projects aimed to train students with specific expertise such as navy commanders or music composers.

The 495 projects had undergone a strict, professional examination by a panel consisting of 122 academics of social science and natural science and prominent professors. Liu said that the selected projects had been approved by the State Council and the MOE after three months' publicity.

Liu also said that the awards enjoyed equal importance and prominence to the three Chinese top awards in natural science, namely the National Awards for Advancement in Science and Technology, National Awards for Natural Science and National Awards for Invention, and they were the highest honor that college and university staff could achieve.

The National Awards for Teaching Achievements in Higher Education have been held three times by the MOE in 1989, 1993 and 1997 respectively, honoring a total of 1,223 projects.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2002)