On March 3, 2023, under the guidance of the Higher Education sub-sector of the Ministry of Education, the founding meeting of the contact group of National Center for Innovation in Emerging Engineering Education took place online. In order to further improve the governance system of the National Center for Innovation in Emerging Engineering Education, advance the governance capacity, and promote the high-quality development of the emerging engineering construction, a leading group of the National Center for Emerging Engineering Education and Innovation has been established. The meeting was chaired by Xia Shuqian, deputy director of the Academic Affairs Office of Tianjin University and director of the Office of the Emerging Engineering Education Center. Many distinguished guests attended the meeting, including educational experts and cadres in emerging engineering education from more than 300 colleges and universities and relevant associations. Several of them also delivered a speech, namely, Hou Yongfeng, a top-level researcher of the Science and Technology Office, Higher Education sub-sector of the Ministry of Education, Gu Peihua, academician of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and director of the Emerging Engineering Education Center of Tianjin University, and Ma Xinbin, vice president of Tianjin University.

Pic 1 The founding meeting of the contact group of National Center for Innovation in Emerging Engineering Education

Pic 2 Speech delivered by Hou Yongfeng

In his speech, Hou Yongfeng pointed out that the establishment of the contact group of the National Center for Innovation in Emerging Engineering Education is of great significance for improving the governance mechanism of emerging projects and realizing the strategic objectives of the next stage. He made three recommendations to the contact group. First, the contact group should publicize the emerging engineering projects. The first batch of emerging engineering construction projects in colleges and universities took root and made important progress and remarkable results. The contact group members shall actively publicize and report the advanced experience and latest progress in emerging engineering construction. Second, the contact group should take the lead in conducting research on emerging engineering projects. The expert group will carry out in-depth research, diversified exploration and bold practice in promoting theoretical deepening, discipline construction, model innovation, and the construction of teaching staff, play the role of think-tank and consultant, and put forward practical suggestions for further deepening engineering education reform. Think tanks and consultants should also play a role in putting forward feasible suggestions for further deepening the reform of engineering education. Third, the contact group should build bridges between education and industry. The construction of emerging engineering education should be demand-oriented, with school-enterprise cooperation and collaborative education as important components, so that the cultivation of emerging engineering talent can adapt to economic and social development.

Pic 3 Reports presented at the meeting

Some representatives from colleges and universities introduced the progress made in constructing the emerging engineering, including Niu Yuge, deputy director of the Academic Affairs Office of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Han Yunsong, deputy director of the Teaching Research and Quality Management Department of the Undergraduate School of Harbin University of Technology, Liu Haibo, deputy director of the Undergraduate School of Harbin Engineering University, Liao Wenbo, deputy director of the Academic Affairs Office of Dongguan Institute of Technology, Liang Quansen, head of the Teaching and Research Section of the Academic Affairs Office of South China University of Technology.

Pic 4 Speech delivered by Gu Peihua

In his speech, Gu Peihua pointed out the significance of establishing the contact group in such a new era. Currently, the world is in the midst of the most dramatic change in a century, with a new wave of technological and industrial transformation advancing rapidly. It is the historical mission of the emerging engineering education to cultivate scientific and technological leaders with forward-looking ability. The contact group should strengthen exchanges between colleges and universities in the fields of discipline construction and talent cultivation. According to their own advantages and conditions, these colleges and universities should continue to promote the construction of engineering education and train excellent engineers and technicians.

Pic 5 Summary made by Ma Xinbin

Ma Xinbin summarized of the meeting. First of all, he expressed his heartfelt thanks to the universities for their trust and support. In addition, he said that all colleges and universities should strengthen cooperate to jointly construct emerging engineering. The establishment of the contact group would further enhance the influence and radiation of emerging engineering construction in China, so that it will become deeply popular among colleges and universities across the country.

Currently, the National Center for Emerging Engineering Education Innovation has 297 contact group members, based on recommendations from colleges and trade associations. As an important platform for emerging engineering construction, the Contact Group will report the progress of work on the National Emerging Engineering Information Reporting System on a monthly basis. The Centre will broaden the channels of university publicity and strengthen the dissemination of advanced and typical experience. Channels include a national briefing on the progress of emerging engineering construction, a yearbook on emerging engineering education, a website and a social media account.

By: Zheng Wuxuan

Editor: Qin Mian