Policies designed to cultivate talent within universities are central to China’s strategy for reforming and improving the quality of its higher education. This study develops a goal-instrument analysis framework for a content analysis of 113 such policies. Within the context of China’s Double First-Class construction, the analysis examines the selection and use of policy instruments for university talent cultivation in Henan Province. Using a value orientation analysis, the study also explores the rationality between policy goals and the selection of policy instruments. There are three main findings: (1) policy instruments for cultivating university talent are comprehensive, but their structural allocation is imbalanced; (2) the utilization of secondary policy instruments has some level of diversification, but there the path dependence is clear; (3) the selection of policy instruments is reasonably aligned with the achievement of policy goals, but there are still noticeable biases. To optimize the policies and improve the quality of cultivated talent, three measures should be taken: scientifically allocate the structure and further strengthen the mutual promotion of various types of policy instruments; break the path dependence and further optimize the collaborative combination of secondary policy instruments; and correct existing biases and further enhance the effectiveness of policies. © The Author(s) 2025.
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