Current State, Challenges, and Prospects for the Development of National Security Education for Students at Chinese Universities

The article analyzes the development of national security education for Chinese students in the decade following the enactment of the National Security Law of the People’s Republic of China. It traces the transition from the “fragmentary implementation” of individual courses to the formation of a “systemic model”. The article examines innovative approaches in the fields of public policy, legislation, curricula, practical platforms, and human resources. It highlights the ongoing challenges in educational practices, including formal ism, uneven resource distribution, fragmented content, insufficient specialization of teachers, and student engagement. In the context of the strategic goals of making China an educational power by 2035 and strengthening national security, the following areas of optimization are proposed: a systematic con tent delivery model focused on credit-bearing courses and multi-level learning materials; diversified teaching methods characterized by case-based, scenario-based, and digital technologies; collaboration on faculty development and resources through partnerships that bring universities together, political and legal institutions, the military, and civil society organizations; a dynamic assessment mechanism based on multidimensional indicators of knowledge, skills, and behavior; integrate national security education into a broader system of citizenship education and professional training.