Keywords:
IPE research
digital pedagogy
qualitative data analysis
conceptual framework
China higher education

  • Abstract

    The development of ideological and political education (IPE) in Chinese higher education plays a vital role in shaping students’ ethical, intellectual, and political values within the framework of socialism. However, despite increasing research attention, limited systematic evaluations exist, particularly regarding behavior-based frameworks such as the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) model. This study aims to assess the scholarly trends in IPE research from 2020 to October 2024 and to propose a conceptual KAP model to enhance IPE effectiveness. A thematic review approach was employed, guided by predefined inclusion criteria. A total of 315 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science databases, of which 43 were selected for in-depth analysis. Thematic analysis using ATLAS.ti 9 generated 19 initial codes, which were classified into four key themes: educational technology and innovative teaching, online media and information-based education, curriculum integration and interdisciplinary learning, and educational theory, assessment, and quality management. Word cloud visualization indicated "Education" as the most dominant term in the corpus. The findings demonstrate a strong research focus on technological applications and instructional innovation, while revealing a notable deficiency in conceptual and evaluative frameworks like the KAP model. This study proposes a conceptual structure for applying KAP in the context of IPE, aiming to support a more comprehensive and adaptive approach to political education in higher education. The review provides theoretical and practical implications, offering insights for researchers and policymakers concerned with the strategic advancement of IPE.

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Hou, J., & Khairani, A. Z. B. (2025). A thematic review on ideological and political education for university students in China. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 9(6), 2026237. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2026237
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