Peer-led Growth Community: A Case Study of Undergraduate and Graduate Interactive Moral Education in China

The interactive moral education model between undergraduate and graduate students leverages their contextual and age-related similarities, thus emphasizing peer-led engagement to foster holistic development. Through the establishment of collaborative platforms and innovative methodologies, this model integrates moral character cultivation, social practice, career guidance, academic mentorship, research training, and peer counseling. Grounded in peer education theory, mutual growth is promoted through bidirectional support, self-discipline, and heteronomy. Based on a case study, this study presents a six-dimensional practice framework of such moral “education,” moral character cultivation, social practice activity, employment guidance, learning guidance, research ability guidance, and peer counseling implemented at University Y. Furthermore, our research demonstrates the efficacy of this model in enhancing students’ competencies and addressing systemic challenges in China’s expanding higher education system. Despite the lack of value-added evaluation of student involvement, this research underscores the importance of peer education for students of different levels and can provide a reference for relevant schools globally to implement such education