Intellectual Support Research Articles

Analysis of the Influence of Deng Xiaoping’s Reform and Opening up Thought on China’s Modernization Process

Since Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening up thought was proposed, it has had a profound impact on China’s modernization process. This paper first outlines the core content and characteristics of Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening up thought, including focusing on economic construction and adhering to the four basic principles, and analyzes the practical application of this thought in various fields such as China’s economy, social politics, and cultural concepts. Subsequently, the paper systematically reviews the evolution of China’s modernization process before and after the reform and opening up, especially the significant achievements made by China in economic development, social and political progress, and cultural concept transformation after the reform and opening up. Specifically, Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening up thought promoted the transformation of China’s economic system from a planned economy to a market economy, stimulated market vitality and creativity, and promoted the sustained and rapid development of Chinese economy. At the same time, this thought has also promoted social and political progress, strengthened the construction of democracy and the rule of law, and guaranteed the democratic rights and freedoms of the people. In terms of cultural concepts, Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening up thought has led the transformation and innovation of cultural concepts, promoted the openness and progress of people’s ideological concepts, and provided spiritual power and intellectual support for modernization construction. In summary, Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening up thought has had a profound impact on China’s modernization process, and its combination of theory and practice has provided valuable experience and inspiration for China’s modernization construction.

Collaborative Linkages Among Universities, Industry, and Research: Empowering Enterprises in Free Trade Zones for High-Quality Advancement

Against the backdrop of current economic globalization and regional economic integration, the construction of pilot free trade zones and free trade ports has become an important strategic measure for China to promote high-quality economic development and enhance international competitiveness. As an important base for knowledge innovation and talent cultivation, universities can provide strong intellectual support and technical support for the high-quality development of free trade zones and free trade port enterprises through industry university research cooperation. This article delves into the significance of university industry academia research cooperation for the high-quality development of enterprises in pilot free trade zones and free trade ports, analyzes the current problems, and proposes forward-looking, targeted, and actionable countermeasures and suggestions.

Planning major national strategic topics for science and technology journals: Practice and reflection

Background: This study was aimed at exploring effective methods for scientific and technological journals to serve national innovation-driven development. It also examined major strategic demands in this respect and their effects on journal quality and influence. Methods: This study identified topics related to major national requirements and development strategies for science and technology from special issues planned and published in the Science & Technology Review, such as "Suggestions for the 14th Five-Year Plan" and "Strategic Scientists". Particular focus was directed to the effects and achievements of "Suggestions for the 14th Five-Year Plan", which were examined on the basis of data from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and other sources. Results: By pinpointing key time points for publication and focusing on major national strategic plans and requirements for science and technology, it is possible to attract leading experts in academia to independently or comprehensively participate in writing articles for journals. Such endeavors not only provide intellectual support for national innovation and development but also significantly increase the citation frequencies, download volumes, new media reading volumes, and reposting rates of journals. Conclusion: Focusing on major national strategic planning is integral to serving national innovation-driven development, promoting the development of disciplines, and cultivating excellent scientific talents. It also effectively improves the academic quality and social influence of scientific and technological journals.

Establishment and Cooperation of Sino-Russian Arctic Think Tanks in Universities: Context, Positioning, and Pathways

In the context of the rapid development of science and technology and the complexity of the geopolitical landscape, the Arctic region has become a frontier of international competition. Russia and China, as important participants in Arctic affairs, not only share common interests in the fields of geopolitics and economics but also possess significant potential for cooperation in maintaining stability and sustainable development in the region. In recent years, scientific and technological diplomacy has become an important tool for interstate interaction, and the construction and cooperation of Arctic think tanks at universities in Russia and China are gradually transforming into a primary format for scientific and technological diplomacy.Aim. This article aims to explore the establishment of think tanks at universities in China and Russia in the field of Arctic research, analyze their role and positioning in scientific and technological diplomacy, and further investigate specific pathways for cooperation between universities, along with recommendations for optimizing interactions.Methods. Through a systematic review and empirical analysis, the cooperation and establishment of think tanks in universities in China and Russia concerning Arctic issues are examined.Results. The cooperative pathways of Arctic think tanks in Chinese and Russian universities include conducting joint scientific research and expeditions to achieve data and resource sharing; regularly holding international conferences and academic exchanges to facilitate political dialogue and knowledge transfer; utilizing research results from think tanks to provide policy recommendations to the government, supporting decision-making for both countries on Arctic issues. Additionally, cooperation among think tanks can enhance exchanges and collaborations in fields such as information technology and environmental protection, promoting joint development.Conclusions. The research findings indicate that cooperation between the think tanks of universities in China and Russia on Arctic issues effectively promotes interaction between the two countries in areas such as politics, information technology, resource utilization, and environmental protection, providing intellectual support for the Arctic strategies of both countries and playing an active role in global governance.

Practical Case Exploration of Cultural Tourism Integration in Public Libraries

The role of public library has changed in this era. Public library and tourism are bonding together nowadays. Consumer and readers’ have changed over the time, they are expecting brand new experiences in tourism and library. As the traditional cultural and information resources collection and service institutions, it’s role in the integrated development of cultural tourism has become more and more prominent. Libraries have rich historical and cultural resources and professional service capabilities which can provide rich materials and intellectual support for the innovation of cultural tourism products.

The global security initiative and China–Thailand non-traditional security cooperation

AbstractThe Global Security Initiative (GSI) has provided significant thought inspiration and guidance for both traditional and non-traditional security governance in today’s world, and China–Thailand non-traditional security cooperation has provided a representative example of how the GSI can be practiced and implemented. China and Thailand have friendly relations, share similar security cooperation concepts, and have many common interests in terms of non-traditional security challenges. Subsequently, the two countries have carried out extensive bilateral and multilateral cooperation in areas such as maintaining financial security, combating transnational crime, resolving public health problems, and responding to climate change and natural disasters. The China–Thailand non-traditional security cooperation has yielded fruitful results. In addition to these dynamics, bilateral non-traditional security cooperation also has shortcomings and challenges, including irregular cycles in some areas of collaboration, a low degree of mechanization in certain collaboration, inadequate intellectual support, and the complexity of great power competition which causes some impact for China–Thailand non-traditional security cooperation. China–Thailand non-traditional security cooperation has enhanced the security and mutual trust between the countries, boosted bilateral cooperation and development, provided an example for non-traditional security cooperation between China and other countries, and promoted regional and global security and development.

Transcending Boundaries of Rationality and Spirituality: Ibn ‘Arabi’s Holistic Vision in Islamic Legal Interpretation

The higher objectives of the Sharia provide a legal framework within Islamic law to guide independent reasoning in interpreting legal issues based on rational principles. However, knowledge can also be obtained through unveiling. Ibn ‘Arabi argued that intellectual activities without spiritual experience are like spiritual perceptions without intellectual support. His analysis involved a systematic and rigorous approach to understanding and interpreting Islamic law through philosophical, linguistic, and historical contextualization. Ibn ‘Arabi relied on inner knowledge when examining legal issues and performed a type of spiritual ijtihād, but he did not disregard the role of traditional scholarship in Islamic jurisprudence. This balanced approach highlights the integration of rational and spiritual dimensions in legal reasoning, emphasizing the importance of both intellectual and spiritual insights in the interpretation of Islamic law. By combining these elements, Ibn ‘Arabi’s methodology offers a comprehensive understanding of legal issues, ensuring that interpretations are both deeply rooted in traditional scholarship and enriched by personal spiritual experiences. This dual approach underscores the dynamic and multifaceted nature of Islamic jurisprudence, where rational analysis and spiritual insight work together to achieve a holistic understanding of the law.

Defining digital humanities and examining its relationship with linguistics through the lens of Digital Scholarship in the Humanities

Abstract Digital humanities (DH) is an emerging interdisciplinary academic field that has gained prominence in recent decades. This study explores the evolution of topics, research impact, and attractiveness of DH through the lens of the journal Digital Scholarship in the Humanities (DSH), a leading platform for DH research, from 1986 to 2023 (in three phases: 1986–2003, 2004–2014, and 2015–2023). The study also examines the role of linguistic research in DH. The results reveal that: (1) the primary themes and trends in DH research have evolved from text encoding and analysis to critical studies of technology, infrastructure, and knowledge production; (2) the citation patterns demonstrate the growing influence and recognition of DH within the humanities and computer sciences; (3) European and North American scholars have dominated DH networks, but new centers and scholars are emerging in Asia, South America, and Oceania; and (4) linguistics-related publications have given less attention to specific linguistic features but have provided vital intellectual support for DH. This study provides a data-based perspective on the development and direction of DH, and demonstrates the value of linguistic methods for mapping scholarly fields over time. Based on these findings, suggestions are made for scholars interested in DH.

METHODS OF TRAINING AND ADAPTATION OF AI AGENTS IN COMPLEX PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS

The article presents a study of modern methods of training and adaptation of artificial agents used in managing complex processes, which are characterized by a high level of uncertainty and the need for prompt response to changes. Key methodological approaches such as machine learning and neuroevolution are discussed. These approaches allow AI agents to accumulate knowledge about the behavior of systems continuously, analyze external changes, and adjust the management strategy depending on environmental conditions, which significantly increases their ability to predict and prevent possible failures in management. In the course of the study, models were considered that allow automating the execution of complex, multitasking processes, minimizing human intervention, and reducing the likelihood of errors. In addition, the presented methods provide high flexibility and scalability of systems, which is especially important in industrial and technological industries, where stability and reliability are critical. The results showed that AI agents with adaptive learning capabilities can increase operational efficiency while reducing costs and optimizing resource use. The conclusion highlights the prospects of using artificial intelligence to build highly autonomous control systems capable of responding to dynamic challenges, which opens up new horizons for automation and intellectual support in industrial production, logistics, and other key areas. Thus, the article makes a significant contribution to understanding the role of AI in management modernization, offering practical recommendations on the implementation of intelligent agents in real-world scenarios to increase productivity and sustainability.

"Three-education" Synergistic Innovation Driven by New Quality Productive Forces: Connotation Deconstruction, Logical Deduction and Path Exploration

The new quality productive forces led by science and technology innovation is reshaping the global economic and social structure, with far-reaching impacts on the field of education. In this context, "three-education" collaborative innovation has become a key force to promote the modernization of education. The new quality productive forces will optimize the allocation of educational resources through scientific and technological means, promote the transformation of the education model and conceptual innovation, and lead the education system to deep-level changes. In this change, technological innovation and educational innovation are mutually empowering, emphasizing the core role of interdisciplinary integration and open cooperation in building a new era of educational ecology. To cope with this trend, the "three educators" collaborative innovation should build a smart education platform, implement cross-border integration education strategies, establish an ecosystem for industry-education integration, build an open resource symbiosis network, and innovate the education evaluation system. These strategies are aimed at cultivating high-quality talents that meet the needs of the new era and providing solid human and intellectual support for high-quality economic and social development.

Technological sovereignty as a factor of competitiveness of oil and gas companies of the Russian Federation

Aim. To investigate the importance of technological sovereignty for strengthening the competitive positions of Russian oil and gas companies.Objectives. To identify the key factors that determine the level of technological independence of oil and gas companies; to assess how these factors affect their ability to compete successfully at the national and international levels.Methodology. The research uses general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis using a systematic approach.Results. The essence of technological independence as a factor in the development of competitiveness of companies in the oil and gas sector was analyzed. The assumption is formulated that the achievement of technological sovereignty allows companies to mitigate risks arising from external factors, including international sanctions and restrictions on access to advanced foreign technologies. Several strategic initiatives have been proposed to strengthen the technological sovereignty of the domestic oil and gas industry: training of highly qualified personnel, introduction of tax incentives and subsidies from the state for companies, creation of special economic zones or technology parks, protection of intellectual property and support for patent activity.Conclusions. Technological independence is the most effective method in the context of the struggle of Russian industrial companies against external challenges: sanctions and changes in global energy markets. The development of national technologies in the oil and gas sector due to the synergetic effect has a positive impact on strengthening the competitive advantages of Russian national companies in both domestic and international markets. In order to ensure technological sovereignty, special attention should be paid to the development of strategic risk management mechanisms, as well as effective communication models between the state, industry, and science.

Research on the Knowledge Structure and Sustainable Development Pathways of Artificial Intelligence from the Perspective of Technological Science

Achieving significant breakthroughs in both the fundamental theories and technological applications of artificial intelligence is essential for fostering its long-term development. Under the guidance of Professor Qian Xuesen’s theory of technological science, exploring the internal mechanisms of knowledge evolution in artificial intelligence holds profound theoretical and practical significance for promoting sustainable technological advancement. This study draws on literature from the Web of Science (WOS) database and employs methods such as knowledge mapping, natural language processing, clustering analysis, and citation analysis to outline the knowledge structure of the field, clarify the trajectory of sustainable development, and trace the technological genealogy of VR/AR technologies.This study divides the knowledge structure within the field of technological science into “basic theoretical knowledge—applied basic knowledge—applied knowledge”, enriching Qian’s theory of technological science from within and providing strong intellectual support and technological pathways for sustainable technological development in practice. Artificial intelligence encompasses 10 distinct knowledge domains, among which machine learning and deep learning constitute the basic theoretical knowledge, data intelligence, computer vision, and swarm intelligence are the applied basic knowledge, and image processing and human-computer intelligence are the applied knowledge. The development of VR/AR technology has formed two main sustainable development paths: “machine learning—data intelligence—intelligent systems—human computer intelligence”, and “deep learning—computer vision—image processing”.

Construction and Validation of a Scale to Measure College EFL Students’ Perceived Teacher Support

Students’ perceived teacher support (SPTS) is considered crucial to students’ learning. But most existing SPTS scales were developed for the field of general education, and there is a lack of studies that attempt to develop a tailored scale specifically for the context of EFL learning. This study interviewed 86 Chinese college EFL learners and surveyed 1,089 Chinese non-English majors to develop an SPTS scale specifically for the context of college EFL learning in China. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. The result indicated that SPTS is a tripartite construct consisting of emotional, intellectual, and social support. This study contributes to a better understanding of the unique aspects of language teaching and emphasizes the significance of tailored SPTS scales in different educational settings. The study elucidates the importance of SPTS in college EFL learning, providing guidance for effective teaching practices to enhance students’ learning experience.

Research on Mechanisms for University Connotation Construction and High-Quality Employment in the Context of New Quality Productivity

The introduction of the concept of new quality productivity has attracted a great deal of attention in the educational community. However, there is an urgent need to align it with policy orientation and advancements in science and technology moving forward. Colleges and universities themselves should be the leaders of advanced thinking and scientific and technological development, and play their due roles in line with the development of the times to provide quality and urgent talents and intellectual support. For this reason, this paper proposes that universities should consciously establish a set of regular operation mechanisms, namely, the linkage mechanism between “social demand” and “connotation construction,” and operate regularly under the guarantee of the system. This enables universities to lead or grasp the pulse of scientific and technological development, constantly improve the level of connotation construction, promote high-quality employment, and provide high-quality services for modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Freedom of thought

AbstractThis paper develops a novel conception of freedom of thought as the right to epistemic self‐realization. The recognition of this right is characterized here as a modally robust normative status that I think one has as a potential knower in an epistemic community. It is a status that one cannot enjoy without a specific form of institutionalized intellectual respect and support. To explain and defend this conception of freedom of thought, it is contrasted here with more traditionally “negative” conceptions of freedom of thought, in terms of not being interfered with. It is also contrasted here with a “positive” conception of freedom of thought derived from a recently prominent account of doxastic agency as grounded in the rational capacity to self‐determine one's own response to reasons. In both cases, the crux of the argument in this paper is that a conception of freedom of thought as a right to epistemic self‐realization makes better sense of why we fear the counter‐liberatory forces of propaganda and regulated thinking, and also why we hold out hope for the liberating potential of education and critical engagement with expertise in the public sphere.

An evaluation of the use of character strengths as an asset-based approach to learner support

The global movement towards inclusive education aims to create a safe environment where teachers are expected to actively pursue various methods to implement asset-based support for all learners. The prominence of the learners’ challenges, however, still guides most teachers’ methods of support. Teachers need to review all the resources, strategies, and practices that can be used in the classroom to provide physical, social, emotional, and intellectual support to all learners. Mindful professional development can empower teachers to support learners in all aspects of their education. In this article we report on a study in which Grade 7 teachers’ perceptions of a staff development workshop, which introduced them to an asset-based approach for learner support, namely, the identification and utilisation of character strengths, were explored. The main findings indicate that teachers gained new knowledge and greater insight and awareness about character strengths, which enabled them to rethink and reshape their perceptions of learner support. They came to view the identification of character strengths as a crucial component of effective learner support. The results of the research have implications for all schools to implement an approach to learner support based on character strengths.

The All Together Group: Co-Designing a Toolkit of Approaches and Resources for End-of-Life Care Planning With People With Intellectual Disabilities in Social Care Settings.

Support staff within social care settings have expressed a need for resources to facilitate end-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities. This study aimed to co-design a preliminary toolkit of end-of-life care planning approaches and resources that can be implemented in adult social care services for people with intellectual disabilities. An adapted Experience-Based Co-Design process was applied to develop a toolkit for end-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities. A co-design group (the 'All Together Group') met six times from January to October 2023. The group comprised nine people with intellectual disabilities (including four researchers with intellectual disabilities, who also co-facilitated the workshops), five family members, five intellectual disability support staff, two intellectual disability service managers,and five healthcare professionals. The All Together Group tested resources for and approaches to end-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities, based on findings from a scoping review and a focus group study. Easy-read end-of-life care planning forms were deemed overwhelming and complicated, whilst visual and creative approaches were welcomed. Three new visual resources to support illness planning and funeral planning with people with intellectual disabilities were developed: (i) 'When I'm ill' thinking cards; (ii) 'Let's Talk About Funerals' conversation-starter pictures; and (iii) 'My funeral' planning cards. These three resources, alongside three positively evaluated existing resources, were included in a new toolkit for end-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities. Through an iterative, flexible, inclusive,and comprehensive co-design process, a toolkit of three newly developed and three existing resources was created to facilitate support staff in doing end-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities. Following a trialling process with support staff, the final toolkit was made freely available online. The research team included four researchers with intellectual disabilities (A.C., D.J., L.J., and R.K.-B). Researchers with intellectual disability have been part of every step of the research process; from study design to data collection and analysis to dissemination of study findings.Intellectual disability service provider representatives (M.W., N.P., and S.S.) were part of the co-design group as well. Two of these representatives were also co-applicants in the overall project (N.P. and S.S.). The co-design group included people with intellectual disabilities, families, intellectual disability support staffand health and social care professionals. The study was supported by a Research Advisory Group comprising a variety of stakeholders, including people with intellectual disabilities families, intellectual disability researchers, representatives from intellectual disability organisations,and policymakers.

Effects of perceived teacher support on online language learners’ engagement

This study aimed to investigate the effects of perceived teacher support on online language learners’ engagement. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted to explore the issue. A total of 1429 Chinese first-year non-English major students from different disciplines participated in the survey, and three of them were selected as semi-structured interviewees. The collected survey data were processed through multiple analyses with the help of SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0, while qualitative data subsequently gathered from interviews served as supplementary evidence for examining the quantitative results. The findings indicated that online language learners were generally engaged at an intermediate level, and overall perceived teacher support was relatively close to the upper level. Furthermore, online language learners’ engagement was positively correlated with perceived teacher support. Specifically, perceived intellectual support dominated in predicting overall engagement, cognitive engagement, emotional engagement, and social engagement, whereas perceived emotional support had the strongest influence on language learners’ behavioral engagement in the online context. The implications of these findings for future studies and educational practices were discussed.

Effects of tourism on socio‐economic well‐being and its inter‐regional convergence: Evidence from China's 291 cities

AbstractBig socio‐economic well‐being gap is common across countries and regions. This study examines the impact of tourism on socio‐economic well‐being and its convergence from a comprehensive and inter‐regional convergence perspective. Using panel data of 291 cities during the period 2005–2019, we provide the comprehensive evaluation of socio‐economic well‐being at the city scale in China. Considering the dynamic characteristics of socio‐economic well‐being, we therefore estimate the impact using the system generalized method of moments. The result indicates that tourism significantly enhances local socio‐economic well‐being and is found to be robust. We also find the dominance of domestic tourism, the positive moderator effects of general budget expenditure, GDP per capita and urbanization, and a greater driving force in cities with higher socio‐economic well‐being. Since both β‐ and σ‐convergence hold, we confirm the positive effect of tourism on the convergence of inter‐regional socio‐economic well‐being. We emphasize policies support for tourism development in underdeveloped regions through fiscal expenditure, financial transfer payments, intellectual support, urbanization, and infrastructure construction. We suggest incorporating tourism into frameworks such as rural revitalization and regional coordinated development. We also recommend accelerating the expansion of tourism in underdeveloped regions and enhancing the quality of tourism in developed regions as spatial strategies, while emphasizing inter‐regional tourism coordination and cooperation.

China-Nepal Think Tank Cooperation: Significance, Status and Prospects

Think tanks play an important role in the friendly relationship between China and Nepal. China-Nepal think tank exchanges and cooperation is the proper meaning of building a China-Nepal destiny community, fits the inherent objectives of China-Nepal think tank construction, and can provide effective intellectual support for the construction of the “Belt and Road” together with China and Nepal. At present, China-Nepal think tank cooperation has made remarkable progress: the two countries have set up specialized China study and Nepal study institutes, published a large number of reports, theses, monographs and media commentaries, intensively organized forums and conferences to improve exchange and cooperation mechanisms, promoted public diplomacy of think tanks to reinforce the people-to-people bonds between China and Nepal, and at the same time, they have also joined hands to build an international and interdisciplinary think tank platform with mountain characteristics. In the face of some shortcomings in the existing cooperation, both sides should strengthen the comprehensive capacity building of the two countries' think tanks, explore emerging topics such as digital and green transformation, promptly bridge the cognitive differences in China-Nepal cooperation, and ensure the objectivity and truthfulness of the information sources and knowledge outputs. Only in this way can China-Nepal think tank cooperation create new paths, expand its influence and enhance its effectiveness, and play a stronger role as an intellectual engine for deepening the development of the China-Nepal relationship.