From October 25 to 27, 2024 National Vehicle Engineering Professional Committee Annual Conference was held in Qinhuangdao. The event was organized by the Vehicle Engineering Professional Committee of the China Mechanical Industry Education Association and hosted by the School of Vehicle and Energy at Yanshan University. Nearly 200 representatives from over 100 universities and enterprises in the field of vehicle engineering across the country attended the conference.
Group photo of the participants
The opening ceremony was chaired by Professor Min Haitao from Jilin University, Vice Chair of the Vehicle Engineering Professional Committee. The following guests delivered speeches: Wang Dianlong, Standing Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Yanshan University; Feng Chunsheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Mechanical Industry Education Association; and Guan Xin, Chair of the Vehicle Engineering Professional Committee, Member of the State Council’s Academic Degree Committee, and Director of the Automotive Research Institute at Jilin University.
Wang Dianlong, on behalf of Yanshan University, warmly welcomed the domestic and international experts and scholars attending the conference. He introduced the university’s contributions to national equipment manufacturing, emerging industries, and regional economic and social development. He also reviewed the development of the vehicle engineering program at Yanshan University and expressed that the university would use this conference as an opportunity to gather academic resources, foster collaborations, and promote the vibrant development of vehicle engineering. Feng Chunsheng, representing the China Mechanical Industry Education Association, congratulated the successful organization of the conference and hoped it would help reflect on the progress of vehicle engineering education while focusing on the future direction of the profession. Guan Xin, on behalf of the Vehicle Engineering Professional Committee, expressed heartfelt thanks to the attendees and the hardworking staff, emphasizing the urgency of strengthening vehicle engineering education and deepening professional reforms in response to the global transformation of the automotive industry. He encouraged the exploration of new concepts, approaches, and models in vehicle engineering education.
Wang Dianlong delivered the opening speech
Feng Chunsheng delivered the opening speech
Guan Xin delivered the opening speech
The morning's main session was chaired by Professor Zhao Zhiguo, Vice Dean of the School of Automotive Engineering at Tongji University, and Professor Guo Yingxi, from the School of Automotive Engineering at Chang'an University. The first half featured keynote speeches by Professor Zhao Fuquan, Director of the Automotive Industry and Technology Strategy Research Institute at Tsinghua University and Honorary President of the Federation of International Automotive Engineers (FISITA), and Norman Koch, Global General Manager of Shell Eco-Marathon. They spoke on “Training Vehicle Engineering Talent in the context of Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the New Era” and “Fostering International College Students’ Innovative Practical Abilities through Racing Competitions”, respectively. In the second half, Dr. Du Zhiqi, Chief Scientist at the China North Vehicle Research Institute, and Wei Hong, Deputy Director of the Autonomous Driving Technology Center at Great Wall Motors, delivered keynote speeches on “Reflections on Higher Education in Automotive Engineering from the Perspective of Engineering Practice Ability” and “New Talent Knowledge and Skill Requirements for Automotive Product Development”. Finally, Professor Jin Lisheng, Dean of the School of Vehicle and Energy at Yanshan University, presented a report on the “Construction of National-Level First-Class Undergraduate Programs in Vehicle Engineering at Yanshan University”.
Professor Zhao Fuquan delivered the keynote speech
Norman Koch delivered the keynote speech
Dr. Du Zhiqi delivered the keynote speech
Wei Hong delivered the keynote speech
Professor Jin Lisheng delivered the keynote speech
The conference set up two sub-venues, "Seminar on the Reform of Vehicle Engineering Discipline Construction and Talent Training" and "Seminar on Reform and Innovation in the Construction of Vehicle Engineering Discipline Course Textbooks", and 15 keynote reports. Experts at the conference conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on the relevant reports and jointly offered suggestions for the training of vehicle engineering professionals.
Parallel session meeting
Experts and scholars from both domestic and international backgrounds gathered to discuss solutions to challenges such as the imbalance between the supply and demand for professional talent, as well as the impact of interdisciplinary knowledge structures in the context of industrial transformation. The discussions focused on strategies for reshaping professional positioning, rebuilding knowledge systems, optimizing course structures, strengthening industry-education integration, and cultivating top-tier talent to better meet the needs of a strong automotive nation. This conference coincided with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the School of Vehicle and Energy at Yanshan University. It also marked the first time in 20 years that the school hosted the National Vehicle Engineering Professional Committee Annual Conference. The event not only continued the university’s commitment to talent cultivation but also witnessed the ongoing transformation of the automotive industry. The success of the conference has significantly contributed to the development of vehicle engineering talent, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the strengthening of academic exchanges at Yanshan University.
