The role of college counselors in fostering awareness of the Chinese national community and learning how to fulfill their responsibilities

Abstract

In the context of globalization and social transformations, strengthening the consciousness of the Chinese national community among students is of strategic importance for consolidating society and preserving cultural identity in China. The concept of a national community implies the unity of a multinational people, a common historical destiny and values, which makes it the core of ideological and political education in universities. The role of college counselors goes beyond administrative support, turning into spiritual guidance and the formation of patriotic beliefs among young people. However, traditional methods are losing effectiveness among the digital generation, requiring innovation. The purpose of the study is to analyze the role of consultants in fostering national consciousness and to develop ways to optimize their work to improve the quality of higher education and social stability. The methodological framework includes an integrated approach: analysis of government documents (the Plan of Patriotic Education in the New Era), scientific publications on pedagogy and psychology. The empirical base was formed by a survey of 1,200 students and 150 consultants from 10 universities, as well as 80 in-depth interviews. Statistical analysis (SPSS: frequency, correlation), thematic coding of qualitative data were used to identify problems and efficiency factors. The results show that students perceive consultants primarily as solvers of everyday problems, while the ideological function remains secondary due to administrative overload (200-300 students per student) and poor methodological training. The survey revealed a gap between the declared values of collectivism and the real attitudes of individualism, which reduces motivation. The interviews confirmed a lack of skills in interactive methods and digital tools. The discussion highlights the need for reforms: reducing workload, reorganizing qualifications with an emphasis on dialogue formats (projects, volunteerism), digitalization (social media) and interaction with parents. This will allow consultants to become catalysts for the formation of national consciousness, combining tradition with modernity, contributing to the consolidation of society and overcoming the challenges of globalization.