•  
  •  
 

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Keywords

excellence trap, innovation-motivated education, X-type/A-type duality, special innovation zones for talent development

Document Type

Think Tank Viewpoint

Abstract

The “Needham Question” and “Tsien Hsue-shen’s Inquiry” jointly reveal a deep-seated structural contradiction—the “trap of excellence”: while traditional educational paradigms excel at mass-producing excellent talent that conforms to existing standards, they systemically suppress the emergence of exceptional geniuses capable of pioneering “new continents”. Confronted with the strategic goal of “building China into an education, science & technology, and talent powerhouse by 2035” and the transformative changes brought by AI technology, driving the reconstruction of educational paradigms and evaluation systems has become an urgent national strategic imperative. Based on sixteen years of practical exploration at Tsinghua University’s Tsien Excellence in Engineering Program (TEEP) and the Shenzhen X-Institute, we have established a new paradigm of “Innovation-motivated Education (iME)” powered by “intrinsic motivation”. This study aims to argue that breaking the “trap of excellence” necessitates achieving two further core breakthroughs: (1) A cognitive breakthrough: It is essential to clarify the fundamental distinction between excellence and exceptionality. The drive of the former (Type-A) is highly extrinsic, manifesting as precise responsiveness to external metrics and incentives. The drive of the latter (Type-X), however, is strongly intrinsic, stemming from innate curiosity, creative passion, or even a lofty sense of mission. (2) A mechanistic breakthrough: A “phase separation” development strategy must be implemented. This involves, while ensuring the stability and efficiency of the mainstream education system, establishing “Type-X Talent Development Special Zones” outside it, protected by special policies and evaluation systems, and constructing a dynamic balancing mechanism between the two systems. In practice, the X-Institute is leveraging AI technology to explore creating a form of “phase separation” that transcends time and space—A “quantum-state ecosystem” organizational model. This model aims to efficiently catalyze a “nuclear fusion”-like reaction among Type-X students, grand challenge problems, and top-tier mentors with minimal marginal cost, thereby achieving the sustainable, collective emergence of breakthrough innovative talent. This practically validated iME system is designed to forge a new, self-reliant path for the nation to cultivate exceptional innovative talent, providing a strategic paradigm and systematic solution capable of effecting a lever-like change across the entire landscape to ultimately resolve “Tsien Hsue-shen’s Inquiry”.

First page

2231

Last Page

2239

Language

Chinese

Publisher

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences

References

1. 郑泉水. “多维测评”招生：破解钱学森之问的最大挑战. 中国教育学刊, 2018, (5): 36-45. Zheng Q S. “Multi-dimensional assessment” admissions: The greatest challenge to solving Qian Xuesen’s Question. Journal of Chinese Educational Studies, 2018, (5): 36-45. (in Chinese)

2. Collins J. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t. New York: Harper Business, 2001.

3. 唐三歌. 矛盾叠加——量子论的超级世界观. 北京: 商务印书馆, 2021. Tang S G. Contradictory Superposition—The Super Worldview of Quantum Theory. Beijing: Commercial Press, 2021. (in Chinese)

4. 郑泉水. 破界创生——从清华钱学森班到深圳零一学院的创生教育. 北京：清华大学出版社, 2025. Zheng Q S. Breaking Through Boundaries and Creating—From Tsinghua Qian Xuesen Class to Shenzhen Zero One College’s Creative Education. Beijing: Tsinghua University Press, 2025. (in Chinese)

5. Aghanim N. Planck 2018 results. I. Overview and the cosmological legacy of Planck. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2020, arXiv: 1807.06205.

6. Bahcall S. Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2019.

7. 钱学森. 大学要有创新精神——钱学森最后一次系统谈话. 人民日报, 2009-11-05(02). Qian X S. Universities should have an innovative spirit—Qian Xuesen’s last systematic talk. People’s Daily, 2009-11-05(02). (in Chinese)

8. 郑泉水, 徐芦平, 白峰杉, 等. 从星星之火到燎原之势——拔尖创新人才培养的范式探索. 中国科学院院刊, 2021, 36(5): 580-588. Zheng Q S, XU L P, Bai F S, et al. From single spark to prairie ablaze—Exploring new paradigm to cultivate top innovation talents. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2021, 36(5): 580-588. (in Chinese)

Download
Request a Copy

Share

COinS