Abstract: The fundamental mission of higher education is to guarantee that the all-round development of the young generation in moral values, intelligence, physical fitness and professional competence, which means all university graduates should be qualified professionals with professional ethics and competence. General Secretary Xi placed great emphasis on professional competence education of the young generation, stressing that we should focus on building an education system which comprehensively advances students' moral values, intelligence, physical fitness and professional competence. However, professional competence education has been a weak link in our higher education system for long time, and the inadequate professional competence of college graduates has become a social issue. This does not agree with the strategic goal to build a great modern socialist country proposed by General Secretary Xi. Universities and other organizations concerned should actively explore methodologies to enhance professional competence education so as to foster qualified professionals for national development.

Key words: higher education, college students, all-round development, professional competence, quality of talent cultivation