LU Zhiqiang
(School of Continuing Education, Tsinghua University)
Abstract: With China’s development of industrialization and the increasingly fierce competition from international community, whether we can cultivate a batch of high-quality multi-level engineering technological personnel so as to make new major contribution to the development of China and the progress of engineering technologies in the world has become the key to improving China’s industrial competence and enhancing its overall national strength, which is also the historical responsibility of engineering education(EE) in universities and colleges in China. The author introduces the current situation of EE in China and identifies the major shortcomings of EE in China, e.g. ineffective talent cultivation system, lack of practical engineering experience, inadequate connection with industry, etc. Through the case study of Tsinghua University, the author explores the methods to solve the above mentioned problems and improve the development of EE in China through international cooperation and learning from international experience.
Keywords: Engineering Education, international cooperation
Nowadays, with the rapid development of science and technology, engineering technology is playing an increasingly important role in promoting the economic and social development, while the education level of engineering and technological personnel is critical to the development of engineering technology and the national industrial competence. Therefore, different countries and regions, especially the industrialized countries, all attach much importance to promoting the reform and development of EE and try to cultivate more qualified engineering and technological personnel, so as to maintain the advantage in international competition.
With China’s development of industrialization and the increasingly fierce competition from international community, whether we can cultivate a batch of high-quality multi-level engineering technological personnel so as to make new major contribution to the development of China and the progress of engineering technologies in the world has become the key to improving China’s industrial competence and enhancing its overall national strength, which is also the historical responsibility of engineering education(EE) in universities and colleges in China.
1.Current Situation and Shortcomings of EE in China
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, and especially since the reform and opening up to the world in 1970s, China has made great achievements in its EE, with millions of engineering personnel educated and a relatively rational EE structure and system formulated, thus making major contribution to the economic growth and modernization drive of China.
By the year 2008, among the 2,263 higher education institutions (HEI) in China, 2,188 offer EE programs, of which 981 offer bachelor degree EE programs and 1,207 offer associate degree programs. The undergraduate student population in EE programs this year reaches 3.71 million, while the graduate student population reaches 0.47 million. Among the over 10 million engineering and technological personnel in China, 90% hold associate degrees or above, nearly 60% hold bachelor degrees, and master degree holders also take up a certain proportion. As the backbone and core of technological innovation, they are playing a more and more important part in engineering technology innovation.
However, there are still some problems and shortcomings of EE in China.
First of all, a more comprehensive talent cultivation system of EE is needed. There are different demands for engineering talents during the social and economic development. Currently, the higher engineering education in China includes three different levels, i.e. associate degree, bachelor degree and master degree programs, and the teaching contents on engineering science, technology and management of these three levels are supposed to be different. On the other hand, the inadequate CEE system has constrained the continuing education and professional development of engineering personnel.
Secondly, practical engineering training in EE needs to be enhanced. EE must be practical engineering oriented, and training for students based on practical engineering projects must be strengthened. Engineering students in China usually have few opportunities to take part in practical engineering training and internship, leading to the lack of skills and experience in solving practical engineering problems. Only a small part of the students in engineering HEIs are trained directly for the industry, and only a small number of engineering papers and designs are directly industry oriented.
Thirdly, the connection between EE and industry needs to be strengthened. EE must be industry-oriented, while the industrial development largely depends on EE. Only through the close connection and cooperation between EE and industry can we promote the development of EE and the education of engineering talents. Nowadays, the connection between EE and industry is not close enough. On the one hand, not enough practical training and internship could be provided to engineering students. On the other hand, HEIs could not adjust and improve the curriculum in a timely manner according to the needs of society and industry.
2.Major Measures to Promote the Development of EE in China
In June 2010, Chinese Ministry of Education initiated “Excellent Engineers Education Plan”, which is a major reform project under the National Medium and Long-Term Education Reform and Development Program (2010-2020) and the National Medium and Long-Term Talent Development Program (2010-2020) and a significant move to turn China from a big EE country to a powerful EE nation. The Plan is aimed to cultivate a large batch of hi-quality engineering and technological talents in different areas with strong innovative abilities who are able to meet the needs of economic and social development, making contribution to China’s taking the new path of industrialization, the building of an innovative country and the strategy of reinvigorating China through human resource development. It will play a significant guiding role in promoting the development of higher EE and improving the education quality of engineering talents.
The Plan has several distinctive characteristics, including emphasizing learning from international experience in EE, cultivating engineering talents according to international standards, and enhancing international exchange and overseas internship for engineering faculty and students, etc.
To promote the development of higher engineering education, China will making efforts in the following aspects:
1. Establishing a new mechanism for the universities and industry to jointly cultivate engineering talents. In this way, industry has become a joint education partner instead of just employer. And university and industry could make joint efforts in designing the education objectives and plans and executing these plans.
2. Reforming the education model with the focus on the engineering and innovation capabilities. China is planning to set up some National Practical Engineering Education Centers in some enterprises, so that the students could spend one year in industry developing their graduation projects.
3. Reforming and improving the employment and assessment system of engineering faculty. In appointing and assessing engineering faculty, the HEIs should focus on their practical engineering designs, patents, university-industry collaboration experience, and technical service, etc. Priority shall be placed on those who have working experience in industry. An engineering teacher should have a certain period of working experience in industry before he will be promoted.
4. Opening wider to the outside world in the field of EE. For example, China Scholarship Council will support the international exchanges and overseas internship of engineering faculty and students.
5. Developing talent cultivation standards jointly with the industry. Chinese Ministry of Education will develop the working standards together with China Academy of Engineering and develop professional standards jointly with the industry and professional organizations. The HEIs will educate engineering students according to the above standards. The talent quality of “Excellent Engineers Education Plan” will be evaluated according to the international standards.
3.A Case Study of Tsinghua University: Global Vision of EE
Tsinghua University is usually regarded as a good example of EE for the HEIs in China. It actively promotes international cooperation and exchange, brings in the excellent international educational resources, learns from international experience and enhances the cultivation of high-level engineering talents.
Tsinghua University’s successful experience in EE can be summarized in the following aspects.
1. Combining engineering education and liberal arts education. The integration of engineering education and liberal arts education is an inevitable trend in the modern development of higher education and is also necessary to the education of high-level engineering talents. Within the context of EE globalization, the combination of liberal arts education and engineering education will have important influence on the cultivation of modern engineers in the 21st century. Currently, the elective courses on social sciences and humanities for engineering students in Tsinghua University take up about 1/4 of the total credits required.
2. Combining campus training and industry training. In 1950s, Tsinghua University organized engineering students to design their graduation projects in practice, which was very helpful in training the student’s practical engineering abilities. On campus, the University puts emphasis on the comprehensive training on modern manufacturing and engineering, e.g. computer integrated manufacturing simulation, engineering management, market simulation and analysis, etc., so as to improve the students’ awareness of market-oriented technology application and their abilities to analyze and solve problems. Outside campus, the University tries to enhance the connection between EE and industry and actively conduct university-industry collaboration, so as to promote the successful transfer of engineering technologies and the education of engineering talents.
3. Developing Global Vision in EE. Tsinghua University pays much attention to the development of international EE and strengthens the international cooperation and exchange in the engineering education and research. Every year, the University will send many teachers to visit other universities and attend international academic conference. Besides, we will invite well-known international experts and entrepreneurs to give lectures in Tsinghua University and host many international conferences. The University also tries its best to attract international researchers to take part in our research and teaching or work in the laboratories.
4. Attaching much importance to CEE. As Tsinghua University is famous for its engineering disciplines, it takes advantage of its EE resources and brings them into full play in international cooperation and exchange of CEE, so as to actively open training programs on engineering technologies and management. Since 2003, School of Continuing Education, Tsinghua University has been cooperating with famous international universities and organizations in high-level training programs in engineering field, covering supply chain management, project management, industrial design, engineering management, etc. Meanwhile, Tsinghua University takes the initiative to participate in international organizations of EE and CEE. Through international cooperation and learning from international experience, Tsinghua University tries to promote the sustainable development of EE and CEE.
4.Conclusion
Seen from the successful experience of Tsinghua University, learning from the best practice and excellent experience of industrialized countries in the field of EE and actively conducting international cooperation and exchange is a major measure to promote the development of EE in China.
References
[1] Qidi WU, Engineering Education Towards Next Decades, Presentation in 2009 ASEE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education, Oct. 13, 2009 in Budapest.
[2] Binglin GU, Reform and Development of Higher EE in China, Presentation in 2004 ASEE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education, Sept. 7, 2004 in Beijing.
[3] Excellent Engineers Education Plan, http://baike.baidu.com/view/3810178.htm.
（The paper was published in the 12th IACEE World Conference on Continuing Engereering Education in October, 2010）
