China's reform of the elite engineer training program has shown results, with the first cohort of master's students having begun internships at leading companies, and doctoral candidates are now engaged in key industries, Education Minister Huai Jinpeng said on Thursday.

The ministry is pushing forward the outstanding engineer education and training program, aiming to cultivate a new generation of strategic talent that will drive innovation and support the nation's modernization efforts, Huai said at a news conference on high-quality development of the country's education sector.

The program, which was proposed in 2021, seeks to integrate industry and academia to nurture engineers capable of addressing technological challenges and leading industrial upgrades. Focusing on the training of engineering masters and doctoral students, it is seen as a crucial move of China to build a highly skilled workforce.

"The training of elite engineers is rooted in technical innovation and aims to promote the integration of education and industry," Huai said.

In January, the central government awarded the "National Engineer Award" to recognize outstanding contributions in the engineering field, underscoring the program's importance.

To enhance the training program, the ministry collaborated with other departments to support the establishment of 32 national elite engineer academies at top-tier universities.

These academies developed in partnership with State-owned enterprises and are designed to train engineers with a focus on innovation and practical problem-solving, Huai said.

Four national elite engineer innovation institutes were also launched in Beijing, Shanghai, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, aiming to integrate research, education, and industry to create a connected system for talent development.

The program introduces a model that involves joint recruitment and training, as well as shared project outcomes between universities and companies. "This approach can break down traditional barriers between academic and industrial training, ensuring that students gain practical experience and contribute directly to industry advancements," Huai said.

More than 200 core courses have been developed in collaboration with enterprises to equip students with practical skills, while 20,000 industry professionals have been appointed as instructors in the program.

The ministry encourages enterprises to propose practical problems and solve them with universities. Since the program launched three years ago, about 5,000 real-world issues from business sector have been involved, Huai said.

In addition, a new evaluation system is introduced for graduate degrees, expanding the criteria to include patents, practical reports, and innovative achievements rather than relying solely on academic papers, he added.

Huai noted that the country plans to strengthen international cooperation in engineering education by releasing a set of national standards for elite engineer training, which will serve as a blueprint for global collaboration.

A review meeting will be held to summarize the program's progress and address new challenges in adapting to the evolving industrial landscape, he added.