The pursuit of high-quality higher education in ethnic minority regions is of paramount importance in the contemporary era. As China advances towards its distinctive model of higher education modernization, the imperative for a robust evaluation framework for higher education modernization becomes increasingly evident. Achieving synchronized educational modernization across all ethnic groups is not only a persistent and evolving facet of the historical national strategy of “Four Modernizations in Synchronization” but also a critical milestone and salient indicator of concurrent progress in higher education modernization across ethnic minority regions in the present context. From 2012 to 2020, the nation executed a nine-year strategic plan aimed at revitalizing higher education in the central and western regions. This study, employing literature analysis and grounded in the five core functions of universities, utilizes a comprehensive dataset spanning a decade (2012 to 2021) to construct a bespoke evaluation index system for the modernization of higher education in ethnic minority regions. Through quantitative assessments, this study evaluates the trajectory of modernization in higher education development in these regions over the past decade, thereby offering indirect insights into the efficacy of the national initiative to rejuvenate higher education in the central and western regions. The findings indicate a fluctuating yet upward trend in the overall level of higher education development across the eight ethnic minority regions. Nevertheless, substantial disparities persist when compared with other provinces. Notably, Tibet and Guizhou have demonstrated significant growth, with respective growth rates of 5.533 and 4.341. Moreover, an in-depth analysis leveraging the grey GM(1,1) prediction model projects the future developmental trajectories of higher education in ethnic minority regions. To ensure the sustainable advancement of higher education in ethnic minority regions, supplementary policy interventions are indispensable. This entails fostering a conducive environment of resonance and coordinated development between ethnic economies and higher education, thereby nurturing a harmonious relationship that propels progress.

Efficiency serves as a crucial metric in assessing the advancement of scientific research for universities. Reasonable inputs of human resources, finances, materials, and other resources, along with high-quality research output, are important guarantees for the research efficiency of Chinese universities. This study delves into the patterns of changes of research efficiency among universities across the 31 provinces and municipalities of China from 2012 to 2022. By scrutinizing input-output perspectives and utilizing data sourced from the China Statistical Yearbook, the analysis unveils prevailing scenarios of input redundancy and output insufficiency in research efficiency across universities. The static and dynamic trends in research efficiency were further investigated by employing a static non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)-BCC model and a dynamic Malmquist index. Key findings from the analysis from 2012 to 2022 include: (1) notable growth in investments in teaching, research equipment assets, and research and development funds among nationwide universities; (2) a steady increase in the mean value of technical efficiency (TE) from 0.97 to 0.99, indicating continuous enhancement in overall efficiency in research input resource allocation across the provinces; (3) the mean Malmquist productivity index of 1.285, with an average annual increase of 28.5%, signifying a consistent improvement in university research efficiency throughout the study period; and (4) the provinces experiencing varying degrees of input redundancy or output insufficiency were selected to suggest the need for tailored strategies in resource allocation. The study underscores the importance of a holistic evaluation system involving stakeholders from government, universities, and society to optimize research efficiency and promote scientific innovation and social development.