Music and Aesthetic Training within Ideological and Political Education in Higher Educational Institutions

Abstract

Music and aesthetic training embedded in ideological and political education is expected to cultivate cultural identity and civic values in Chinese higher music institutions, yet its actual impact on students’ creativity and learning remains underexplored. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of such training in strengthening cultural and ideological outcomes while also supporting creative engagement and the application of knowledge in students’ everyday lives. A mixed-method design was used, combining a structured questionnaire administered to 418 students from four universities and colleges with ten partially structured interviews. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics and factor analysis, while interview data were thematically coded to clarify and deepen interpretation of survey patterns. Teaching and assessment were dominated by traditional, text-based methods, with closed examinations and oral tests most frequently used and around 90 % of students reporting no experience of creative assessment. These findings indicate a need to retain strong cultural and ideological aims while redesigning music and aesthetic training towards more interactive, creative and technology-rich formats that better reflect contemporary educational expectations.