The Ministry of Education invited experts to discuss about the major training plans submitted by HUST and other institutions of higher learning for the “Education Training Plan for the 2^ndGroup of Outstanding Engineers” (hereinafter referred to as Outstanding Plan), 133 in total, in accordance withSome Opinions on Implementing the Education Training Plan for the Outstanding Engineersby the Ministry of Education(Jiao Gao [2011] No.1). According to the opinions of the experts, 362 undergraduate-majors or categories including HUST’s Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Automation as well as Automation, and 95 graduate-disciplines including Aeronautic Engineering of Civil Aviation University of China were added to the Outstanding Plan. Recently, the Ministry of Education Office has issued the name list of the Majors of Institutions of Higher Learning for the “Education Training Plan for the 2^ndGroup of Outstanding Engineers” (Jiao Gao Ting [2012] No.7).

According to the relevant policy of the Ministry of Education, HUST started the preparation for the application of the “Outstanding Plan” in 2010. The issue was attached great importance to by the Party Committee of HUST and Vice President Meng Dawei made himself responsible for the preparation and application of “Outstanding Plan”. What’s more, the Office of Academic Affairs coordinated the investigation, argument and application. All these preparation laid solid foundation for the success of Outstanding Plan application. In July 2011, HUST was approved to be the pilot institution of higher learning for “Education Training Plan for the 1^stGroup of Outstanding Engineers of Heilongjiang” and Software Engineering and Metallic Material Engineering of HUST were approved as the pilot majors for education training plan for the 1^stgroup of provincial outstanding engineers. In October 2011, HUST was approved as one of the 2^ndGroup of state “Institutions of Higher Learning for Outstanding Engineers”.

At the same time of application of Outstanding Plan, HUST started the cooperation between the school and enterprises based on “Outstanding Plan”. “Outstanding Engineers Plan” practice bases were concluded between HUST and over 40 enterprises like Qi Zhong Numerical Control Equipment Co., LTD.

HUST will persist in the talent cultivation idea of emphasizing foundation and advocating practice, and improve the undergraduate diversified talent cultivation system, trying to foster more and more excellent advanced engineering talents with profound theoretical foundation and practical engineering expertise.