Research and Exploration of the Cultivation System for Talents in Innovative Practices at Applied Undergraduate Colleges: A Case Study of Local Undergraduate Institutions in the Southwest Region
Against the backdrop of actively promoting the construction of an innovative nation, cultivating talents for innovative practices at applied undergraduate colleges has become an urgent task in the current higher education reform. Applied undergraduate colleges should prioritize advancing the reform of the applied talent cultivation model, with the goal of serving the development of local socio-economic conditions. Taking five applied undergraduate colleges in the southwest region as examples, this paper delves into how these institutions, throughout the entire process of integrating innovation and entrepreneurship education into talent cultivation, construct an innovative practice talent cultivation system centered around students, utilizing integrated methods involving innovation competitions, featuring the integration of industry and academia, and catalyzed by interdisciplinary collaboration. The study involved surveys of 286 current university students and those who graduated within the past five years, along with 36 staff members from departments related to innovation and entrepreneurship education in higher education institutions, specialized teachers involved in innovation integration, and competition guidance instructors. By summarizing the current challenges and methods in the innovation and entrepreneurship education and talent cultivation processes of applied undergraduate colleges, the paper explores specific measures for the cultivation of innovative practice talents.