Education: A Strategic Pillar for Industrial Growth
At the symposium, Secretary Chen Jinshan underscored that basic education serves as a critical strategic fulcrum for industrial development. This insight reflects Lingang's development logic: industry needs talent, and talent needs education. As a key national strategy area, Lingang is committed to "running the best education," making quality schooling a core competitive advantage for attracting high-caliber professionals and optimizing the business environment.
The meeting unveiled the 2026-2030 Action Plan for High-Quality Basic Education in Lingang New Area, outlining a five-year blueprint. The plan emphasizes forward-looking project construction, scientific resource allocation, and enhanced funding guarantees, with continued support in resources, policies, and workforce to create more model schools. This is not only a response to people's livelihood concerns but also a strategic move for the industrial ecosystem, embodying the philosophy that "good education is the best investment attraction."
Quality with Equity and Innovation: Twin Drivers
Secretary Chen highlighted "quality with equity" as the fundamental requirement for basic education in Lingang. This means every school should be a good school, and every child should have access to quality education close to home. To achieve this, Lingang will increase hardware investments, implement school improvement programs, and deepen group-based and district-based schooling to share quality teachers and curricula, fostering an open and collaborative educational ecosystem.
Innovation is equally prioritized. With Dishui Lake School as a flagship, Lingang will pilot small-class teaching, personalized assessment, and innovative management—truly returning classrooms to students and vitality to education. This "test-bed" spirit aligns with Lingang's reform DNA as a free trade zone. Additionally, AI-enabled digital transformation in education and collaborative education scenarios involving schools, families, and society will break down campus walls, forming a holistic ecosystem for talent cultivation.
Teachers First: Strengthening the Foundation
Good education hinges on good teachers. Secretary Chen stressed making teacher team development a top priority and elevating respect for teachers as a defining urban trait of Lingang. Measures include implementing the "Lingang Elite Talent Card" policy, enhancing support for teacher household registration, housing, and professional growth, and strengthening maternal and child healthcare services to address young teachers' concerns.
These initiatives reflect not only care for teachers but also a commitment to talent. By synergizing efforts from government, foundations, universities, and enterprises, Lingang is building an ecosystem where teachers can thrive. This teacher-centric governance will attract outstanding educators to Lingang, injecting sustained momentum into educational excellence.
Conclusion: Lessons for Private Enterprises
Lingang's strategy of treating education as a strategic pillar for industry offers profound lessons for private enterprises. Companies should similarly place talent development at the strategic core, building "talent reservoirs" through learning organizations and career development systems. Lingang's practice of attracting, retaining, and warming people through education reminds businesses that genuine investment in people yields long-term competitiveness. As education and industry advance hand-in-hand, Lingang is creating a better ecosystem for private enterprises, which should proactively integrate into this ecosystem and share in the new city's growth dividend.
Source: Lingang New Area Management Committee (lingang.gov.cn)