Application and Research of Rule of Law Thinking in the Management of Students in Colleges and Universities in the New Era ()
1. Introduction
In the evolving society, student management in colleges and universities faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities. The application and research of the rule of law thinking in this context is crucial. The research problem lies in the various difficulties in student management, such as complex student issues, mental health problems, diverse moral values, and network technology challenges. The objective is to apply the rule of law thinking effectively. It aims to offer suggestions and strategies to boost students’ legal literacy, improve management, and contribute to talent cultivation and a law-based socialist country. For example, it explores how to establish a better management system, formulate relevant regulations for mental health, and guide moral concepts through the rule of law thinking (Zhang, 2019).
2. Connotation and Characteristics of Rule of Law Thinking
2.1. Connotation of Rule of Law Thinking 2.1
Law thinking emphasizes several principles. It underlines the supremacy of law, equality in its application, and the consistency of rights and responsibilities (Zhu, 2022). It focuses on safeguarding rights and maintaining order through legal norms. In college student management, it requires sound regulations for guiding behavior and a good campus environment. It’s seen in areas like student norms, integrity education, and innovation and entrepreneurship. For instance, it ensures fairness in norms, clarifies the link between honesty and the law in integrity education, and promotes compliance and risk prevention in entrepreneurship.
2.2. Characteristics of Rule of Law Thinking
Rule of law thinking requires equality in the application of the law and fairness in the treatment of everyone, irrespective of their status, which means that every student should be treated fairly and not be subjected to injustice on the basis of his or her status or background (Chen & Chen, 2023). Consistency of power and responsibility is one of the key principles of rule of law thinking (Luo, 2020). It emphasises that the exercise of power must be accompanied by corresponding legal responsibilities to prevent the abuse of power, which means that students should enjoy their rights and at the same time fulfil their corresponding obligations, maintaining a balance of power and responsibility. The guarantee of rights is one of the important goals of rule of law thinking (Chen & Wu, 2019). Rule of law thinking focuses on guaranteeing the basic rights of every person and ensuring that citizens enjoy equal opportunities and treatment in social life. Rule of law thinking requires schools to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of students and provide them with an equal environment for development. Regulating order is one of the important tasks of rule of law thinking. Rule of law thinking regulates behaviour through law, maintains social order and prevents social conflicts and disputes. In student management, rule of law thinking requires schools to establish sound rules and regulations to guide students to comply with the norms and promote the good maintenance of order on campus.
3. Status and Challenges of Student Management in Higher Education
3.1. The Current Situation of Student Management in Colleges and Universities in the New Era
In the context of student management in colleges and universities in the new era, China’s society and higher education have experienced profound changes, which put forward brand-new requirements and challenges for student management in colleges and universities. Firstly, the diversity and complexity of the social environment. With the development of society, the social structure of our country is constantly changing, and students from different regions and different backgrounds present diverse characteristics. This makes student management in colleges and universities no longer able to adopt a single management model, and needs to be differentiated according to the needs and characteristics of different students. Secondly, the diversity and complexity of student problems. The new era of college students in the face of academic pressure, career planning, interpersonal relationships and other aspects of the diversity of the problem, involving a wide range of complex problems. The traditional management mode may not be able to cope with these problems well, and more flexible and comprehensive management tools are needed. Again, the prominence of mental health problems. With the increase of social pressure, students’ mental health problems are becoming more and more prominent. Anxiety, depression and other psychological problems have a negative impact on students’ studies and life. This requires more investment and efforts from university student management in focusing on students’ mental health. Meanwhile, students’ moral concepts and values are diversified. In the information age, students are easily influenced by various values and diversified moral concepts. Student management in colleges and universities needs to guide students to establish correct values and moral concepts to promote healthy growth.
In addition, the popularity of network technology also brings new challenges to college student management. Under the network environment, information spreads rapidly, and students are easily influenced by false information and network violence. Student management in colleges and universities needs to strengthen the guidance and supervision of students’ online behaviour (Zhong, 2024).
3.2. Problems and Challenges Facing Student Management in Higher Education
In the new era, student management in colleges and universities is facing increasingly serious problems and challenges, which requires school administrators to be guided by the rule of law thinking and actively explore innovative management methods to cope with these challenges. First of all, students’ mental health problems are becoming more and more prominent. With the increasing pressure of social competition, students are facing psychological pressure from various aspects such as the burden of coursework and career planning. Anxiety, depression and other psychological problems have a negative impact on students’ studies and life. How to establish a sound mental health support system and provide timely psychological counselling and assistance through the rule of law thinking and the formulation of relevant laws and regulations has become an important task for student management in colleges and universities. Secondly, students’ moral concepts and values are diversified. In the information age, students are easily influenced by various values and diversified moral concepts. Some students may have problems such as moral slippage and misbehaviour. How to strengthen moral education through the rule of law thinking, establish a value education system, and guide students to establish correct moral concepts is an important task of student management in colleges and universities. Again, the popularity of network technology has brought new challenges to the management of college students. Under the network environment, students are easily influenced by false information and network violence, and even problems such as network dependence. How to formulate a code of network behaviour through the thinking of the rule of law, strengthen the supervision and guidance of students’ network behaviour, and maintain the health of the campus network environment has become an important topic for student management in colleges and universities. In addition, the problem of unbalanced development of students also deserves attention. Different students have differences in academics, interests and hobbies, but some may face insufficient development opportunities due to problems such as uneven distribution of resources. How to establish a fair opportunity distribution system through the rule of law to provide equal development opportunities for every student is an important topic in student management in colleges and universities (Han, 2024).
4. Application of Rule of Law Thinking in Student Management in Colleges and Universities
4.1. Rule of Law Thinking and Student Behaviour
Rule of law thinking plays an important role in the management of students in colleges and universities in the new era, especially in the formulation and implementation of student behavioural norms, its influence has become more and more significant. Rule of law thinking emphasizes the authority of law, justice and equality, and the principle of consistency of power and responsibility, which provides a strong support for the establishment of student behavioural norms.
Rule of law thinking stresses the authority and universal applicability of the law. In the formulation of the code of conduct for students, the applicable laws and regulations can be clearly stipulated, so that students understand the legal framework they should follow. Through the introduction of legal authority, not only can students be aware of the consequences of illegal behaviour, but also cultivate students’ awareness of the law and law-abiding consciousness, so that they consciously follow the code of conduct.
Rule of law thinking emphasises fairness and equality. When formulating a code of conduct for students, it should be ensured that the code applies to all students, regardless of whether they are noble or lowly, strong or weak. This helps to eliminate unequal treatment and ensure that every student enjoys equal rights and opportunities. By creating a fair school environment, schools can develop students’ sense of citizenship and equality under the guidance of rule of law thinking.
Consistency of rights and responsibilities is another important principle of rule of law thinking and is also closely related to the code of conduct for students. The formulation of a code of conduct should not only emphasise the exercise of rights, but also make clear the corresponding responsibilities. Students enjoy freedom, but should also bear the corresponding legal responsibility. Through rule of law thinking, the close integration of power and responsibility can effectively prevent the abuse of power and promote regulated behaviour (Fan, 2024).
4.2. Rule of Law Thinking and Integrity Education
In the management of students in colleges and universities in the new era, integrity education is a crucial aspect, and rule of law thinking has an important role in integrity education. Rule of law thinking focuses on the authority and fairness of the law, which is the basic value needed for integrity education.
Rule of law thinking emphasises the authority of the law. In integrity education, the introduction of rule of law thinking can make students fully understand the importance of the law in maintaining social order and personal rights and interests. The law, as the bottom line and norms of society, restrains the behaviour of individuals, not only safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of individuals, but also plays an important role in promoting the construction of social integrity.
Rule of law thinking emphasises justice and equality. One of the goals of integrity education is to cultivate students’ sense of fairness and moral values. Rule of law thinking focuses on equal application of the law and fair adjudication, which helps guide students to understand and value fairness, and cultivate them to follow the code of conduct of honesty and trustworthiness.
Rule of law thinking emphasises the consistency of rights and responsibilities. In honesty education, students not only enjoy the honour that comes with honesty, but should also bear the legal responsibility that comes with dishonesty. Through the rule of law thinking, students can make clear the relationship between honesty and the law, so as to enhance the awareness of honesty and avoid dishonest behaviour.
Rule of law thinking emphasises the universal applicability of the law. Integrity is not only a moral concept, but also has legal provisions. Through rule of law thinking, it is possible to combine integrity education with laws and regulations, so that students can have a deep understanding of the importance of integrity and understand the possible legal consequences of dishonest behaviour (Zhang, 2005).
4.3. Rule of Law Thinking and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education
Innovation and entrepreneurship, as an important direction of university education in the new era, requires students to have a broad vision, innovative thinking and the courage to start their own business. In innovation and entrepreneurship education, the application of rule of law thinking is not only to safeguard legal rights and interests, but also to cultivate students’ awareness of legal compliance, risk prevention and innovation.
Rule of law thinking emphasises the authority and universal applicability of the law. In the process of innovation and entrepreneurship, students need to understand and comply with various laws and regulations to ensure that innovation and entrepreneurship activities are carried out within a legal framework. The introduction of rule of law thinking can help students clarify the constraints of the law, prevent unlawful behaviour, and safeguard the legality of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Rule of law thinking focuses on risk prevention. Innovative entrepreneurship is full of uncertainty and risk, and the rule of law thinking emphasises the principle of consistency of rights and responsibilities. Students need to prudently think and predict possible legal risks in the process of innovation and entrepreneurship, and take legal means to prevent them. Through the guidance of rule of law thinking, students can cultivate risk awareness and avoid unnecessary legal risks.
Rule of law thinking emphasises legal compliance. In innovation and entrepreneurship, students need to ensure that their innovative achievements do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, and they also need to follow the relevant industry norms and laws and regulations. Rule of law thinking can guide students to always adhere to legal compliance in the process of innovation and entrepreneurship to avoid adverse consequences.
Rule of law thinking emphasises the protection of intellectual property rights. Innovation and entrepreneurship involves the creation, protection and use of intellectual property rights, and the rule of law thinking focuses on the legal protection of intellectual property rights and rights. Through the rule of law thinking, students can cultivate the awareness of respecting intellectual property rights and protecting intellectual property rights created by themselves, and at the same time improve their legal literacy in intellectual property disputes (Zhang & Kong, 2019).
5. Prospects and Suggestions of Rule of Law Thinking in Student Management in Colleges and Universities
5.1. Rule of Law Thinking and Student Behaviour
In the new era, the application of the rule of law thinking in the management of students in colleges and universities has shown positive results, however, there is still more room for development and prospects. With the continuous progress and change of society, the rule of law thinking will continue to play a more important role in the management of students in colleges and universities in the new era.
First of all, the rule of law thinking will penetrate more deeply into all aspects of student management. From enrolment, education to graduation, the rule of law thinking will become the guiding principle of student management in colleges and universities. When students are enrolled, they can be guided to understand the school rules and regulations and establish a sense of the rule of law. In the education process, students’ legal literacy and legal awareness can be cultivated through legal education. In graduation and employment, legal guidance can be strengthened so that students understand the importance of law in career development. Secondly, the rule of law thinking will pay more attention to the integration of law and morality. Rule of law thinking is not only to comply with laws and regulations, but also to establish correct values and codes of conduct. In the future, university student management will pay more attention to the organic combination of legal education and moral education, cultivate students’ legal and moral concepts, and make the rule of law thinking deeply rooted in students’ hearts. At the same time, the application of rule of law thinking in innovation and entrepreneurship and employment guidance will continue to expand. With the development of social economy, innovation and entrepreneurship has become an important career choice, while legal awareness and legal knowledge have become an important guarantee for innovation and entrepreneurship. Student management in colleges and universities need to pay more attention to the cultivation of the rule of law thinking in innovation and entrepreneurship education, so that students can be more law-abiding and lawful in the process of innovation and entrepreneurship.
5.2. Recommendations for Enhancing the Rule of Law Literacy of Students in Higher Education
In order to better cope with the challenges in the management of students in colleges and universities in the new era, it has become imperative to improve students’ rule of law literacy. The following are a few suggestions that can help colleges and universities to more effectively promote the application of rule of law thinking in student management and enhance students’ rule of law literacy.
First, strengthen the permeability of legal education. In the teaching programme, a special law course should be set up so that students can systematically learn national laws and regulations as well as legal knowledge related to their own professions. In addition, legal elements should also be integrated into various disciplines, so that legal education can be carried through the learning process of students and cultivate their legal literacy. Secondly, diversified forms of rule of law education are provided. Legal knowledge can be conveyed to students through classroom lectures, law lectures, seminars, etc., but students can also be guided to understand and think about legal issues through case analyses, role-playing, moot courts, and other interactive methods. Diverse forms of rule of law education can more vividly stimulate students’ interest and enhance their legal literacy.
Secondly, practical education and rule of law practice activities are strengthened. Students are guided to the court, procuratorate, law firms and other legal practice institutions for field visits, so that they can get a close understanding of the actual situation of legal work. Organise legal practice activities, such as mock court debates, legal aid, etc., so that students can feel the importance of rule of law thinking in practice and enhance their legal literacy.
Thirdly, strengthen the construction of the teaching staff. Cultivating teachers with legal expertise and educational experience can better provide students with high-quality legal education. Schools can encourage teachers to participate in legal training to enhance their legal literacy and rule of law thinking so that they can better convey legal knowledge to students.
Fourth, establish a sound evaluation system for rule of law education. Students’ rule of law literacy is assessed through regular legal knowledge tests and legal practice assessments, so that problems can be detected in a timely manner and targeted improvements can be made. At the same time, the rule of law literacy of students can also be incorporated into the comprehensive quality evaluation system, prompting students to develop a good legal awareness and code of conduct (Qin, 2023).
6. Conclusion
The application and research of legal thinking in the management of college students in the new era is crucial for addressing the unprecedented challenges and opportunities faced by higher education institutions. The foundational principles of legal thinking, including the supremacy of law, equality in legal application, and consistency of rights and responsibilities, provide a solid framework for guiding student behavior, fostering a fair campus environment, and promoting overall student development. The current landscape of student management is complex, with issues such as mental health, diverse moral values, and technological challenges requiring innovative approaches rooted in legal thinking.
The integration of legal thinking into student behavior norms, integrity education, and innovation and entrepreneurship education highlights its versatility and importance. It not only emphasizes the legal boundaries within which students must operate but also fosters a sense of responsibility and accountability. The future of legal thinking in student management looks promising, with potential for deeper penetration into various aspects of student life and a stronger emphasis on the integration of law and ethics.
To enhance students’ legal literacy, recommendations include strengthening the continuity and diversity of legal education, enhancing practical legal experiences, developing a qualified teaching staff, and establishing a comprehensive evaluation system for legal education. These measures aim to nurture students’ legal consciousness, promote their comprehensive development, and contribute to the establishment of a socialist country governed by law. Ultimately, by embracing legal thinking, higher education institutions can better navigate the complexities of the new era and foster a generation of students equipped with the legal knowledge and mindset necessary for personal growth and societal progress.