The School of Mechanical Engineering at Yangtze University,traces its roots to the Petroleum Development Department of the former Jianghan Petroleum Institute. It began enrolling undergraduate students nationwide in 1979 and launched its graduate programs in 1995. In 1985, the Mechanical Department of Jianghan Petroleum Institute was established as an independent entity. In 2003, theAgriculturalMachineryTeaching andResearchSection of the Engineering Technology Department of the former Hubei Agricultural College was merged into the school, formally creating the School of Mechanical Engineering,Yangtze University. In 2023, the School took the lead in establishing theIntelligent Manufacturing Modern Industry College ofOil and Petrochemical Equipment Hubei Province.
The School is characterized byresearch and teaching in energy equipment, with Its Mechanical Engineering discipline has been designated as a key disciplineof bothformer China National Petroleum Corporationand Hubei Province. The Schoolis taking thelead of establishing the provincial advantageous and distinctive discipline groupin “Intelligent Oil and Gas Equipment.” Itprovides a secondary Doctoraldegree in Petroleum Field Machinery, twoprimary disciplineMaster’s programs in Mechanical Engineering and Power Engineering & Engineering Thermophysics, as well as a professionalMaster’s program inMechanicalEngineering.The school offers fourundergraduateprograms inMechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation;Materials Forming and Control Engineering; Industrial Design;and Robotics Engineering. The Mechanical Design, Manufacturing and Automation program is recognized as a national first-class undergraduate program, aNational Distinctive Specialty, and atopBrand SpecialtyofHubei Province.Currently, there are morn than1,800 undergraduate students and 300 graduate students enrolled in the school.
The School has also been selectedfor the national “Outstanding Engineer Education and Training Program.” It is a governing member of the China Machinery Industry Alliance for Outstanding Engineering Education, the China Petroleum and Petrochemical Equipment Industry Association, and the Hubei Intelligent Manufacturing Society Consortium. The School hosts 13 provincial and ministerial-level teaching and research platforms, including the Hubei Provincial Oil & Gas Drilling and Completion Tools Engineering Technology Research Center and the Hubei Provincial Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center for Mechanical Engineering Training, as well as four university-level research institutes such as the Institute of Geothermal Resource Development.
The School currently comprises seven teaching and research units: the Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Department of Materials Engineering, Department of Industrial Design, Department of Robotics Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, a Central Laboratory, and a Mechanical Engineering Training Center. It has 78 faculty and staff members, including 63 full-time faculty and laboratory personnel. Amongthem, 16 are professors and 29 are associate professors. The faculty includes 8 doctoral advisors and 46 master’s advisors. Notably, one faculty member is a recipient of the State Council Special Allowance; four are Hubei Province Distinguished Professors (Chutian Scholars); three are appointed as Industry Professors; and one is recognized as a Hubei Province Outstanding Young Talent. In addition, six faculty members serve as discipline leaders or key academic figures at the provincial or ministerial level.
Over the past five years, the School has undertaken nearly 200 research projects across various categories, including projects under the National Key R&D Program, key projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, major technological innovation projects of Hubei Province, as well as numerous industry-sponsored projects. Total research funding has exceeded 80 million RMB. The faculty have received more than 15 provincial and ministerial-level awards for teaching and research, including a First Prize in the Hubei Provincial Science and Technology Progress Awards (with the School as the leading institution). They have been granted over 300 domestic and international invention patents, published 20 academic books and textbooks, and authored over 400 high-quality papers in scholarly journals.
The School places great emphasis on cultivating students’ professional competence, holistic qualities, and innovative abilities. It has developed a “Light of Craftsmanship” model for student innovation and practical education, which emphasizes preserving the spirit of craftsmanship, mastering technical skills, and upholding professional ethics. This educational approach has produced numerous outstanding graduates known for both their character and academic excellence. Among them is Mr. Zhao Chuanyu, who was honored as one of the inaugural National Moral Models. The average employment rate of the School’s graduates exceeds 95%. In the past five years, current students have won nearly 500 awards in various national competitions. These accolades include top honors such as the Special Prize and Gold Prize in the national “Challenge Cup” competition, a Gold Prize in the “Internet+” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, and First Prizes in contests such as the National College Mechanical Innovation Design Competition, the National College Advanced Engineering Drawing Competition, the National College Metallographic Skills Competition, and the China Graduate Energy Equipment Innovation Design Competition.
The Schoolhas established extensive cooperative and exchange relationships in teaching and research withnumerous overseas universities, such as the University of Houston (USA), New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (USA), and the University of Calgary (Canada).
