The Ministry of Education issued a guideline on Thursday that demanded higher education institutions take into account student performance in art courses upon graduation.

Aesthetic education in higher institutions in China has made great progress since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012.

The guideline aims to further promote aesthetic education among college and university students.

According to the guideline, college and universities are encouraged to develop cross-institution elective courses in art by building a credit transfer system. Students must earn credits by finishing the optional courses to complete their degree.

The guideline specifies major requirements for higher institutions to put a priority on the development of universal access of art education and professional education, as well as to reform teaching methods and improve teaching results.

More efforts should be made to provide qualified art education resources, including enriching more art-related courses, launching various forms of social practices, building top-ranking majors and promoting integration with other disciplines.

The guideline also requires related departments to promote innovation in aesthetic education, explore a variety of digital teaching models by using modern information technology, and launch more online education institutes to offer art courses across the country.

Museums belonging to colleges and universities are also encouraged to open to the public in an organized fashion and fully develop the functions of their social services, the guideline said.