Editor’s Note: On March 4, 2023, as one of the global events of UNESCO World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, Engineering and Engineering Education — Monographs of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) Member ZHU Gaofeng and ICEE Book Series Publication Symposium took place at Tsinghua University. The symposium focused on the theme of the new book series of Engineering and Engineering Education by CAE member ZHU Gaofeng, SUN Yongfu, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) member GU Binglin, Prof. YU Shouwen, and ICEE. HOU Yongfeng, Researcher of the Science and Technology Division of the Department of Higher Education of Ministry of Education, China, delivered a speech. The following are the key points of his speech.

Engineering and Engineering Education, the monograph of CAE member ZHU Gaofeng, elaborates on the development of China’s engineering and engineering education, and puts forward a series of constructive ideas and recommendations. It expounds the definition of engineering, the development of the engineering discipline, as well as the characteristics and trends of engineering education, and puts forward new ideas and methods for the reform and innovation of engineering education, talent cultivation, and building of teaching teams, etc. I believe that these ideas and methods will provide important references and guidance for promoting the reform, innovation and development of engineering and engineering education in China.

In the context of accelerated changes unseen in a century across the world, further development of a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and a profoundly changing international landscape, China is now faced with new opportunities and challenges. In the process of building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, technology is the key, talents serve as the foundation, and education provides the basis. In the new stage of development, engineering science and technology and engineering education play an increasingly prominent role as the engine of socio-economic development and industrial upgrading. The cultivation of more outstanding engineering talents is essential for China to promote its scientific and technological self-reliance and speed up China's upgrade toward a major world center of talent and innovation.

At present, the Department of Higher Education of Ministry of Education is facilitating new engineering disciplines construction in several aspects. First, it adjusts the goals of engineering talent cultivation so as to make them adapt to the future engineering practices which are more intelligent, complex, environmentally friendly, sustainable and opener. Second, it strengthens the cultivation of talents in areas with urgent needs and in short supply and optimizes the scale, type, level, and structure of the cultivation to support the upgrading and sustainable development of China’s manufacturing industry. Third, it guides universities to actively dovetail themselves with major national strategic needs, promote industry-education and science-education integration, and explore new paradigms of collaborative education by following the example of Future Technology Colleges, Modern Industrial Colleges, and the like. Fourth, it facilitates the information-based reform of talent cultivation modes, particularly the reform of learning styles, to unleash the vitality and potential of engineering education innovation.

Going forward, the reform and development of China’s engineering and engineering education remain an arduous task. I hope that all academicians, experts, and scholars will continue to support and assist us in making new contributions to building China into a modern great country in engineering education.

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