Cultivating talents and opening innovative programs were discussed during the Innovative Engineering Education Conference for Leading Engineering Universities, which was held at Tianjin University (TJU) on April 8.

The conference focused on further deepening the reform of engineering education and promoting the construction and development of innovative engineering education.

The Innovative Engineering Education Conference for Leading Engineering Universities opens at Weijin Road Campus, Tianjin University (TJU) on April 8. [Photo/Tianjin University]

During the conference, Zhang Daliang, the Director of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, analyzed the latest trends in economic development, and indicated that the rapid development of the economy has increased demand for innovative engineering talents.

He stressed that the target of higher education in China is now transferring away from being larger to being stronger, and the construction of innovative engineering should keep pace with the times.

"It's time to advance the system and to put programs into effect," he said.

Zhang Daliang, the director of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, delivers a keynote speech. [Photo/Tianjin University]

Zhong Denghua, academician of the China Engineering Academy and the president of TJU, said that TJU would promote collaborative education, cultivate engineering talents who are compatible with the national development strategy, and reform the educational evaluation system.

In terms of the blueprint for the construction of innovative engineering,?Zhong offered a three-step plan: exploring new patterns for visionary engineering and adapting to the development of new technology, new industry, and new economy by 2020; forming advantages with Chinese characteristics in visionary engineering, and strengthening the ability of providing service for development spurred by innovation before 2030; shape a Chinese pattern in leading global engineering trends, and push forward the realization of the China Dream before 2050.

Zhong Denghua, academician of the China Engineering Academy and the president of Tianjin University, delivers a speech during the conference. [Photo/Tianjin University]

More than 200 professors and representatives from universities around China including Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, attended the conference.