On January 10, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) was the host venue for the 4^th Working Meeting of the 2018-22 Ministry of Education (MoE) Department of Mechanical Engineering Teaching Steering Committee conference (Conference). The Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at SUSTech hosted the Conference, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Press. The conference examined the development of first-class courses and teaching materials to promote innovations in mechanical engineering subjects.

SUSTech President Chen Shiyi and MoE Mechanical Engineering Teaching Steering Committee Chairman Fang Yuning both attended the meeting, along with over thirty members of the teaching committee. Beijing Institute of Technology Professor Ma Shaopeng chaired the meeting, in his position as committee secretary-general.

SUSTech President Chen Shiyi welcomed all the members of the committee to SUSTech and provided a briefing about the University. He said that mechanical engineering is one of the fastest-growing disciplines at SUSTech, and has formed a complete talent training system from undergraduate through to postdoctoral, which is why it was approved as a key provincial discipline. President Chen Shiyi pointed out the importance of education and the progress they had made since the establishment of the department four years ago. He hoped that the attending experts would provide valuable insights for the future development of MAE.

MoE Mechanical Engineering Teaching Steering Committee Chairman Fang Yuning thanked SUSTech and Higher Education Press for hosting the conference. He reminded everyone of the importance of mechanical engineering to every walk of life and the national economy. The committee remains committed to the promotion of undergraduate mechanics training for the sustainable development of the nation in the new era under Industry 4.0. Fang Yuning outlined the plans for the remainder of the 2018-22 period.

Four speeches from top mechanical engineering scholars provided unique viewpoints on the innovative development of the mechanical engineering discipline.

In closing the conference, Beijing Institute of Technology Professor Ma Shaopeng summarized the 2018-2019 annual work plan.