Immediately following the 19th Party Congress unanimously adopting 'Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for the New Era' in the Party Constitution, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has begun introducing "Xi Jinping Thought" into every aspect of public life, including as a research topic in universities. Large portraits of the "core leader" have simultaneously begun to be displayed prominently in public spaces. According to the state media, at least 20 universities have set up research institutes for the study of Xi's ideology. Xi Jinping told the Congress "The path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics have kept developing, blazing a trail for other developing countries. It offers a new option for other countries and nations who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence; and it offers Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach to solving the problems facing mankind." An official at the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics' propaganda department said their new research center for Xi Jinping Thought may not have been the first in the country, but was among the first batch. He said "Quite a lot of universities set them up on the same day. Everyone is vying with each other. We made the first batch." China's Education Ministry on October 30, 2017, also issued guidelines for mandatory extracurricular programs that include activities to "foster emotional attachment to the Chinese Communist Party," in elementary and high schools.
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