HIT Media (Text: Wang Chenyang; Photos: All Media Center)
The inaugural meeting of the Advisory Committee for Mechanics Programs in Higher Education (2026–2030), under the Ministry of Education, was held at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) on Oct 9, together with the committee's first plenary working meeting.
HIT served as the lead institution of the new committee and hosted the meetings. Zhao Rongguo, deputy secretary-general of the Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government, held discussions with participating officials, academicians, and other experts. Chen Su, director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology, and Cheng Shuang, deputy secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Education Working Committee, also took part in the talks.
Cheng Shuang, HIT President Han Jiecai, and HIT Academician Leng Jinsong attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. More than 80 leading experts in mechanics from over 40 universities across China attended the meeting. They included members of the newly appointed Mechanics Advisory Committee, members and representatives of the previous committee, and invited experts. HIT Professor Liu Liwu chaired the event.
The meeting takes place. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Cheng Shuang expressed hope the Mechanics Advisory Committee would draw on its expertise and advisory capacity, putting innovative educational approaches and successful teaching reforms into practice to support the high-quality development of higher education. She also called on the committee to strengthen the academic quality and overall development of university mechanics programs.
Cheng Shuang delivers remarks. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Han noted that HIT has aligned its development with the country's needs and is one of the earliest universities in China to establish an academic discipline in mechanics. It has educated and trained many outstanding specialists in the field for China. Han said HIT would use the meeting as a new starting point to coordinate and mobilize its strengths and resources in academic disciplines, faculty expertise, and research platforms, and provide full support for the Mechanics Advisory Committee's work. He expressed hope HIT would work with committee members and colleagues in the field of mechanics across China to further strengthen university mechanics programs nationwide.
Han Jiecai delivers remarks. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Leng noted that, under the guidance of the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education, the Mechanics Advisory Committee will focus on the fundamental educational mission of fostering virtue through education, build on the distinctive strengths of mechanics as an academic discipline, and address major national strategic priorities.
It will serve as an advisory body, a source of expert guidance, and a driving force for advancing the field. The committee will also carry out its functions in research, consultation, guidance, evaluation, and service, steadily advance the development of university mechanics programs, and strive to improve the quality of education and training for future specialists in mechanics while strengthening China's capacity to develop its own talent in the field.
Leng Jinsong delivers remarks. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
The names of the new Mechanics Advisory Committee members were announced at the meeting, and the members received their letters of appointment. Representatives of the previous committee were also presented with commemorative plaques.
Representatives of the previous committee are presented with commemorative plaques. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Academician Yang Wei of Zhejiang University gave a presentation on the progress made in the development of the Mechanics "101 Plan". Professor Ma Shaopeng, who served as Secretary-General of the previous Mechanics Advisory Committee, shared some of the experiences and lessons learned from the previous committee's work, while Academician Leng presented a report on the committee's work. Participants also took part in further discussions.
Yang Wei delivers a presentation. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Ma Shaopeng delivers a presentation. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
Experts take parti n a discussion. [Photo/hit.edu.cn]
During the meeting, participating experts and other attendees visited HIT's Space Environment Simulation Research Infrastructure to learn more about its work.
Edited by: Shang Yankai
Reviewed by: Song Ling, Li Shoubin, Yang Wenyu