Study On Talent Cultivation In American Higher Engineering Education

The construction of "new engineering" is the booster of higher education reform and innovation in China.With the continuous advancement of the strategy of "new engineering",how to carry out the reform of higher engineering education,explore the talent training mode,and cultivate high-quality engineering and scientific talents have become the issues of the times that need to be deeply considered.As an important force leading the reform of higher engineering education in the world,American higher engineering education has become an example for us to learn.This study analyzes the 16 award-winning projects of the Bernard M.Gordon Prize,presents the basic characteristics of the training of higher engineering education talents in the United States,in order to provide reference for the training of engineering talents in the context of "new engineering".The Bernard M.Gordon Prize and the basic information analysis of the award-winning projects can be seen that the Bernard M.Gordon Prize selection criteria are strict,the selection process is standardized,the award-winning projects are relatively complete and each has its own emphasis,the number and status of winners varies from year to year,and the winning universities rank high among the engineering universities in the United States.Based on the basic information analysis of the 16 award-winning projects,four main characteristics of American higher engineering education reform can be seen which are taking engineering leader as the goal of talent training,engineering leaders should have solid professional knowledge,extensive knowledge,good management and leadership skills,problem solving skills,innovative and critical thinking,good communication and teamwork skills,social responsibility and ethical awareness;taking student-centered as training concept,focus on the student’s learning process and learning outcomes;taking “project-based learning” as the teaching mode,it emphasizes the experiential learning in which students participate in real projects and situations,and pays attention to the overall educational experience of students;and taking interdisciplinary education as a way of talent training,which is guaranteed through the establishment of interdisciplinary courses,interdisciplinary teams and a comprehensive interdisciplinary support system.Finally,on the basis of the characteristics of the training of higher engineering talents in the United States,combined with the problems existing in the cultivation of higher engineering talents in the construction of "new engineering" in China,it is proposed that the training of higher engineering education talents should be reformed in the following aspects: Firstly,the government should pay attention to the top-level design,strengthen the guidance of policies and regulations.Secondly,establish the engineering leaders as the training objectives for higher engineering talents;Thirdly,conduct interdisciplinary education to achieve a high degree of integration of multidisciplinary courses.Fourthly,build a training mechanism of school-enterprise cooperation,so that enterprises can deeply participate in and dynamically monitor the whole process of personnel training.