For over two centuries, the discipline of education has largely developed within the framework of Western discourse. As technological advancements and social developments progress, the discipline of education based on industrialization increasingly fails to reflect the requirements of contemporary education and future development. It is even less capable of reflecting the achievements, experiences, pathways, and models of educational modernization with Chinese characteristics. To build a first-class discipline of education, a historic shift of education is essential, i.e. to be rooted in China’s reality, to be aligned with the times, and to meet future needs. The shifts will be manifested in renewing the educational discourses, establishing the practice-oriented educational research, advocating talent cultivation for innovation, and promoting high-quality social services. To achieve these, universities need to reform and innovate their academic institutions from a one-diminesional vertical structure to a multi-dimensional interactive structure. Universities also need to set up appropriate operational mechanisms so as to enhance global influence, demonstrate leadership, and showcase future potential, thereby constructing a Chinese discourse system in the discipline of education.