On November 27^th People’s Daily Online hosted the 2015 University Presidents’ Discussion Forum at the People’s Daily New Media Building. The focus of this year’s forum was higher education reform, building world-class universities and developing top-ranking disciplines. RUC Vice President YI Zhihong gave a keynote speech entitled “Consolidation of Resources, System Innovation, and a New Model for University Think Tanks.” In addition to university leaders from across the country, Education Ministry and other Chinese officials also attended the forum. Vice President YI elaborated on ways of developing first-tier disciplines at Chinese universities and aiming for more competitiveness internationally. Renmin University is focused on introducing institutional innovation through strategic restructuring, resource integration, and think tank reform. In recent years, RUC has developed high-caliber think tanks that are producing a steady output of research directly relevant to policy decisions, such as RUC’s National Academy of Development and Strategy. As more and more centers for policy research are opening all over the country, Renmin University plays a key role as a frontrunner in national policy research. During the discussion following her talk, Vice President YI Zhihong outlined a three-part development strategy for innovation in higher education that must begin with an assessment of the ground that still needs to be covered as Chinese higher education progresses toward world-class excellence.