A mother and her son participated in a parent-child activity during a public campaign held in Beijing, capital of China, on June 7, 2024. (Photo/Xinhua)

Chongqing - Chongqing University of Education has become the first university in western China to offer an undergraduate degree in family education, welcoming its inaugural class of 45 freshmen on September 13.

The move responds to rising demand for professional guidance in parenting, youth development, and elder care.

The country's Family Education Promotion Law, which took effect on January 1, 2022, encourages universities to establish family education programs, train specialized professionals, and expand workforce training. Thus, family education has made significant strides toward professionalization. 

That same year, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security recognized family education instructors as a new profession, signaling growing career opportunities. Family education also became an official undergraduate discipline in 2022, when it was added to the list of new majors under the undergraduate program catalog for higher education institutions.

Building on this national framework, the Chongqing College of Family Education was officially inaugurated at Chongqing University of Education on May 12, 2024, becoming the city's first dedicated institute in the field. This year, the Ministry of Education approved the college's undergraduate program in family education, making Chongqing the third city nationwide, and the first in western China, to offer such a program.

Huang Yan, Party Secretary of Chongqing University of Education, said the college will adopt a whole-life-cycle approach to family education, covering child family education guidance, youth marriage and family life, and elderly health and caregiving. Its goal is to train high-quality, application-oriented professionals to fill service gaps for both the young and the elderly.

The college has been tasked with seven major functions: think tank support, scientific research, talent cultivation, vocational training, resource development, quality evaluation, and social services. In partnership with municipal and district-level authorities, it is establishing a five-tier collaborative framework connecting cities, districts, towns, communities, and schools to promote coordinated education among families, schools, and society. Branch campuses have already been set up in Fengdu County and Dazu District.

Practically, the college is working with government departments and local communities to bring professional parenting knowledge and advanced educational concepts into society through initiatives such as "dad and mom training classes" and family education outreach centers. According to Huang, these efforts aim to strengthen the home–school–society education network and support children's development.

The undergraduate curriculum is structured around four modules: general education courses, major courses, career skills courses, and personal development courses. Offerings include Family and Relationships, Parent-Child Education, Aging and Family Life, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Beyond classroom learning, students will gain hands-on experience through practical platforms such as a child family education guidance workshop, a youth marriage and relationship experience center, and a family health and elder care training lab — all designed to build well-rounded skills.

Graduates are expected to take roles in government offices, education departments, family education guidance centers, parent schools, media outlets, and social organizations, providing management, guidance, and services in family education.