Data Empowerment for Precision in University Ideological and Political Education: Pathways and Practices
University ideological and political education (IPE) in China has long faced challenges related to coarse-grained provision and insufficient targeting. Drawing on a youth development research project conducted at a Chinese university, this study examines how student data accumulated through routine administrative and learning systems can be repurposed to enhance the precision of IPE. We propose a four-dimensional precision framework: student ideological dynamics profiling, tiered and categorized content delivery, integration of online and offline educational carriers, and closed-loop feedback mechanisms. The study also addresses enabling conditions and constraints, including faculty data literacy, institutional data silos, and privacy protection. We argue that while data enables educators to better identify student needs and tailor interventions, the essence of IPE remains value orientation and humanistic care—data is a means, not an end. This paper contributes empirical insights into the operationalization of data-driven student affairs in the higher education context.
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