Classrooms in the caves: What an old university in Yan'an still teaches us

Education is often associated with times of peace and prosperity. Many societies view it as a long-term investment that can wait until immediate crises have passed. Yet the Anti-Japanese Red Army University embodied a very different philosophy: Even amid shortages of buildings, teachers, textbooks, and basic necessities, education remained a strategic priority rather than a luxury.

The university's mission extended far beyond military training. It aimed to cultivate individuals capable of leadership, critical thinking, discipline, political awareness, and responsibility. In that sense, it recognized that victories on the battlefield alone could not secure a nation's future. A country also needed educated people capable of governing, rebuilding, and leading society after the conflict ended.

This insight remains remarkably relevant in the 21st century.

Today's challenges are vastly different from those of the 1930s. Countries now confront technological transformation, climate change, public health crises, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical competition. But these issues cannot be solved solely with material resources. They require capable, ethical, and well-educated people who can adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.

Visiting the former university reminded me that education is ultimately about preparing people for responsibilities they have not yet encountered. The founders of the Red Army University were training individuals not merely for the battles of their own time but for the enormous task of building a new China. In this way, their vision extended beyond immediate survival toward long-term national development.

One detail particularly caught my attention. The university's first department enrolled only 40 students, yet many later became senior military and national leaders. This demonstrates that the quality of education, leadership development, and sense of mission can be more influential than the size of an institution. Great universities do not simply transmit knowledge. They cultivate character, resilience, and commitment to public service.