Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles highlights the shift in graduate education towards practical achievements rather than traditional thesis writing, reflecting industry needs for innovative and applicable skills [1][2] - The initiative is part of a broader reform launched in 2022 by multiple government departments to enhance engineering education, resulting in the establishment of 40 National Excellent Engineer Colleges and 4 National Excellent Engineer Innovation Research Institutes [1][3] - The first batch of over 2,100 master's students graduated under this pilot program, with 67 students, including Zhang Baichuan, applying for degrees based on practical achievements [1][3] Group 2 - Zhang Baichuan's research focused on developing an environmentally friendly high-temperature loss-reducing agent, addressing multiple technical challenges such as high-temperature resistance and compliance with national marine discharge standards [2] - The collaboration between academia and industry has led to the provision of over 5,100 research topics from enterprises, allowing students to work on real-world problems from the outset of their education [2] - The first batch of pilot engineering master's students achieved a high-quality employment rate, with 71% remaining in their field of study [3] Group 3 - Future plans include the formal release of the "Excellent Engineer Training Certification Standards" and the initiation of certification work for National Excellent Engineer Colleges, aiming to promote a sustainable model of industry-education integration [3] - The goal is to extend this model to all engineering master's and doctoral programs, with a target of having over half of these institutions establish their own Excellent Engineer Colleges by 2030 [3]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the innovative approach of using practical achievements instead of traditional theses for obtaining master's degrees in engineering, reflecting the industry's demand for application-oriented talent [1][2]. Group 1: Educational Reform - Since 2022, nine departments, including the Central Organization Department and the Ministry of Education, have initiated a pilot reform for engineering master's and doctoral training, establishing 40 National Excellent Engineer Colleges and 4 National Excellent Engineer Innovation Research Institutes [1]. - The first batch of over 2,100 pilot master's graduates included 67 who applied for degrees based on practical achievements, showcasing a shift towards application-based education [1]. Group 2: Industry Collaboration - The practical achievements of graduates stem from collaborative training between universities and enterprises, providing students with real-world research projects and a complete transformation chain from laboratory experiments to field applications [1][2]. - Companies have provided over 5,100 research topics from the industry frontlines, allowing students to address real needs and enhance their practical skills throughout their education [2]. Group 3: Employment Outcomes - The first batch of pilot engineering master's graduates achieved high-quality employment, with 71% remaining in their respective fields [3]. - Plans are in place to promote the establishment of more Excellent Engineer Colleges by 2030, aiming to enhance the integration of education and industry [3].

Core Viewpoint - The reform of master's and doctoral training initiated by nine departments, including the Central Organization Department and the Ministry of Education, aims to break the "thesis-only" barrier and promote practice-oriented education, aligning talent cultivation with industry needs [1][2]. Group 1: Reform Implementation - The first batch of over 2,100 master's graduates from the pilot program has seen 67 individuals apply for degrees based on practical achievements [1]. - Notable cases include a master's student from Shandong University who became the first in the province to earn a degree through practical results, and ten engineering master's students from Tianjin University who applied for degrees based on design projects [1]. Group 2: Significance of the Reform - The pilot program addresses the long-standing issue of an imbalance between theoretical knowledge and practical application in education, particularly in fields that are inherently practice-oriented [2]. - Institutional recognition of practical achievements is expected to motivate students to apply their knowledge to real-world problems, thereby fostering technological advancement [2]. Group 3: Challenges and Standards - The reform does not imply a relaxation of standards; rather, it raises expectations for students' hands-on skills, innovation capabilities, and problem-solving abilities [2]. - Challenges such as the disconnect between educational institutions and enterprises, the standardization of diverse practical achievements, and issues related to individual contributions and intellectual property rights need to be addressed for the reform to be effective [2].

Group 1 - Wang Qian, a master's student from Shandong University, became the first student to obtain a master's degree based on practical achievements instead of a thesis [1] - Wang's practical work involved developing a bonding process for aspheric resin optical lenses used in VR glasses during her internship at GoerTek, which is expected to reduce unit costs by over 30% and significantly increase production capacity [1] - The achievement reflects a breakthrough in the evaluation reform of engineering master's and doctoral degrees in China, emphasizing practical results alongside traditional thesis defenses [1] Group 2 - Shandong University has been implementing a reform in the training of engineering master's and doctoral students, adopting a "work-study alternation" model since being selected as a pilot for the reform in 2022 [2] - The university's approach includes collaboration with industry mentors, allowing students to focus on real-world problems and needs, as demonstrated by Wang's project on lens precision bonding technology [2] - The institution has established a new evaluation system for graduate achievements based on engineering contributions, moving away from the sole reliance on thesis submissions for degree conferral [2]

Core Points - The article discusses the innovative approach taken by East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) to allow master's students to use practical achievements in industry as a basis for their degree, starting from 2025 [2][3] - The new regulations aim to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world engineering challenges, encouraging students to focus on practical solutions [3][4] Group 1: Educational Reform - Starting from January 1, 2025, the new Degree Law of the People's Republic of China will provide a legal foundation for applying practical achievements in degree conferral [3] - ECUST has established specific guidelines allowing engineering master's students to submit practical results such as research reports, case studies, and product designs instead of traditional thesis papers [3][4] - The initiative aims to enhance the relevance of academic training to industry needs, with a focus on engineering problems and cutting-edge technology [3][5] Group 2: Industry Collaboration - The program emphasizes collaboration between students and industry experts, with two-thirds of the thesis defense committee comprising professionals from the industry [2][4] - ECUST has customized 49 training programs for the 2025 cohort, ensuring that students engage with real industrial challenges while studying [4][5] - The integration of industry mentors in the curriculum is designed to provide students with practical insights and enhance their employability [5][6] Group 3: Practical Outcomes - The practical achievement submitted by a student, Yan Shanyi, is expected to help reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by over 4,200 tons annually once implemented [3][4] - The collaboration between academic and industry mentors ensures that the practical projects meet both academic standards and industry requirements [4][5] - The program includes a "course-internship-employment" certification mechanism, allowing high-performing students to bypass technical interviews in companies [5][6]