EXPLORING THE DILEMMAS AND INNOVATIVE PATHWAYS OF AI-EMPOWERED ETHNIC MUSIC EDUCATION IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE "BUILDING A STRONG EDUCATION NATION" STRATEGY

Abstract

The core of building a leading nation in education lies in implementing the fundamental mission of cultivating virtue and nurturing talent, and in fostering the deep integration of education, science and technology, and human resources. This entails constructing an educational system characterized by six key attributes—including ideological and political guidance, talent competitiveness, and technological support. A primary focus is placed on establishing eight major subsystems, encompassing the cultivation of character and spirit, basic education, vocational education, and higher education. Fundamentally, this approach is people-centered; within this context, ethnic music education in higher institutions serves not merely as a means of training specialized professionals, but more importantly, as a vital vehicle for fostering cultural confidence and preserving China's outstanding traditional culture. Artificial intelligence (AI) has opened new avenues for the preservation and innovation of ethnic music education; indeed, the integration of AI into higher education institutions represents a transformative pathway for revitalizing this field. However, the AI-enabled advancement of ethnic music education in higher institutions currently faces numerous challenges. Grounded in the strategic imperatives of building a leading nation in education, this paper explores the specific dilemmas confronting the integration of AI and ethnic music education in higher institutions. It identifies innovative pathways for their deep integration, leverages the value of AI empowerment, and aims to drive the high-quality development of ethnic music education in higher institutions—thereby ensuring the "living transmission" of ethnic music in the digital era and solidifying the foundations of cultural and aesthetic education.