Research on the evaluation index for high-quality development of national experimental teaching demonstration centers

National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Centers (NETDCs) serve as pivotal platforms for talent cultivation, pedagogical innovation, and interdisciplinary integration. These centers function not only as providers of experimental resources but also as drivers of educational reform. Despite their strategic importance in enhancing the quality of talent cultivation, the field lacks a comprehensive, national-scale empirical framework for evaluating their developmental quality. This study addresses this gap by constructing a multidimensional evaluation system, measuring development levels using multi-year longitudinal data, and exploring feasible pathways for high-quality development.

This study uses data from the National Laboratory Data Management Platform and annual reports submitted by NETDCs between 2018 and 2022. A multidimensional evaluation framework comprising 7 primary dimensions and 42 secondary indicators was developed. The dimensions include basic conditions, teaching and talent cultivation, teaching reform and research, teaching support conditions, team development, and demonstration effectiveness. To balance empirical discrimination with policy relevance, a combined subjective-objective weighting approach was adopted, integrating entropy weighting with expert-based subjective weighting. For in-depth analysis, 63 NETDCs in Jiangsu Province were selected as a case study.

The proposed evaluation system effectively captures multidimensional development characteristics beyond traditional hardware-based indicators. The Jiangsu case study reveals that most centers possess relatively strong foundational conditions and adequate resource support; however, substantial stratification exists in both resource inputs and development outputs. Centers affiliated with “985” and “211” universities demonstrate clear advantages in funding allocation, student achievement, and teaching reform outcomes. These findings indicate that institutional disparities continue to exert a substantial influence on development outcomes. Teaching and talent cultivation, teaching reform and research, and digital resource development emerged as the key dimensions differentiating center performance. High-quality development depends not merely on expanding physical infrastructure but on transitioning toward intensive, digitally driven development.

The high-quality development of NETDCs can be systematically evaluated using a multidimensional framework that integrates entropy weighting, subjective weighting, and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The findings reveal persistent disparities in resources and outcomes across institutions, underscoring the need for differentiated policy support and more targeted governance mechanisms. Digital intelligence is emerging as a key driver of experimental teaching by promoting resource integration, curriculum innovation, and continuous quality improvement. This study provides a robust evaluation tool for national demonstration centers and offers a practical framework for promoting their high-quality development in the era of educational modernization.