Getting the "First Button" Right in University Education: A Study on the Guiding Role of the "Labor, Safety, and Health Education" Course

Abstract

The freshman year in university constitutes a critical period for value formation, where "fastening the first button correctly" directly impacts both individual growth and national development. As a core course in freshman education, "Labor, Safety, and Health Education" serves not only as a vehicle for knowledge transmission and skill cultivation but also as a vital platform for ideological and political education. From the perspective of university counselors and in compliance with the "Regulations on the Development of Counselor Teams in Regular Higher Education Institutions," this paper focuses on the fundamental mission of "cultivating virtue and nurturing talents." By analyzing the courses role in shaping labor values, fostering safety awareness, and guiding health perspectives, it identifies current issues such as superficial implementation and fragmented delivery. The study proposes an optimization pathway of "value guidance – practice empowerment – collaborative education," providing practical recommendations for universities to enhance ideological guidance for freshmen and cultivate well-rounded individuals excelling in moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor education.