As the main body for cultivating outstanding engineers and other innovative talents, what should universities do?

　　With the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference about to convene, You Zheng, a deputy to the National People's Congress, president of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has further revised the suggestions he put forward based on nearly a year of research and practice. He believes that the key to going from a manufacturing giant to a manufacturing power lies in the cultivation of outstanding engineers, and that in the face of new situations and challenges, we must actively explore a path for cultivating outstanding engineers with Chinese characteristics.

　　You Zheng said that a modern industrial system is the material and technological foundation of a modern country. At present, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is surging forward, and as a strategic force driving the development of China's industrial system, the important role of the group of outstanding engineers is becoming increasingly prominent.

　　China launched the Outstanding Engineer Education and Training Program 1.0 in 2010 and implemented the Outstanding Engineer Education and Training Program 2.0 in 2018. After more than a decade of development, China has now built the world's largest engineering education system.

　　You Zheng has long been engaged in research on micro/nano technology, intelligent microsystem technology and their applications. He took the lead in China in carrying out research on micro-electromechanical systems, microsystem technology and their applications in high-end equipment, as well as technological innovation and engineering practice in micro/nano spacecraft. He is "Teacher You," who has worked on the front line of engineering teaching for more than 30 years, and "President You" of HUST, and the leader of the intelligent microsystem team that was awarded the title of "National Outstanding Engineer Team." He also serves as vice chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology and executive deputy director of the Science and Technology Committee of the Ministry of Education. Standing at the intersection of education, science and technology, and talent, he has been thinking about how to combine students' innovative ability with engineering practice so as to boost national scientific and technological progress and industrial upgrading through talent cultivation.

　　At last year's National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, You Zheng submitted suggestions on accelerating the construction of integrated innovation models for talent cultivation in universities and improving the match between talent cultivation and national needs, among which he mentioned the need to increase efforts to cultivate outstanding engineers. At this year's two sessions, he will take "accelerating the improvement of the outstanding engineer training mechanism and consolidating the foundation for the development of a modern industrial system" as an independent topic for in-depth study. To this end, You Zheng led his team to make thorough preparations. Over the past year, he has successively conducted research at enterprises and universities including the China Ship Development and Design Center (701 Institute), Yangtze Memory Technologies, Guide Infrared, as well as the University of Cambridge and the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and the University of Evry-Paris-Saclay in France.

　　As a traditionally strong engineering university, HUST was selected among the first batch of universities for the construction of national outstanding engineer colleges. In April 2023, the National Outstanding Engineer College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology was officially established. What experience has been gained in cultivating outstanding engineers over the past year, and what difficulties have been encountered? Combining the actual situation of outstanding engineer training at HUST, You Zheng conducted an in-depth analysis of the factors constraining the cultivation of outstanding engineers and other innovative talents, and accordingly put forward suggestions at multiple levels including the state, society, enterprises, and universities.

　　"We should focus on the key point of comprehensively improving talent cultivation capacity, strive to cultivate outstanding engineering and technological talents who can adapt to and lead a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and build China into a world center for engineering innovation and a talent highland," You Zheng said. "In the future, HUST will continue to face major national needs, deepen the integration of industry and education, and persist in pursuing excellence, create a new model of outstanding engineers with HUST characteristics, and strive to be a pacesetter in the cultivation of outstanding engineers."