To fully implement the Party’s education policy in the new era and integrate Party building guidance into the whole process of talent cultivation, on May 24, led by Party members including Wu Ming, Deputy Director of the Department of Civil Engineering, more than 130 students majoring in Civil Engineering (Road & Bridge) and Intelligent Construction from Shantou University went to the construction site of the Zhangzhou-Shantou High-Speed Rail (Guangdong Section) undertaken by China Railway No.2 Engineering Group Co., Ltd. and China Railway No.12 Engineering Group Co., Ltd. They carried out a unique practical teaching activity for the course Bridge Engineering.

Led by Party building, this activity moved the education classroom to the forefront of major national projects, achieving deep integration of theoretical teaching and engineering practice. It is a vivid practice and useful exploration for the Faculty Party Branch of the Department of Civil Engineering to deepen the “Party Building + Professional Practice” education model.

In the morning, the teachers and students arrived at the project site and first visited the Party building exhibition hall and cultural exhibition area. With vivid explanations from technical backbones of the project department, they fully understood the strategic significance of the Zhangzhou-Shantou High-Speed Rail as part of the national “Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal” high-speed rail network, and learned in detail how the Party branch played its role as a fighting fortress in safety and quality management.

Through pictures and honors, students deeply felt the vanguard and exemplary spirit of frontline Party member builders charging ahead and shouldering heavy responsibilities in urgent, difficult, dangerous and arduous tasks, receiving a vivid education in Party spirit and spiritual baptism.

Afterwards, the teachers and students gathered in the project conference center for a special “technical lecture”. Comrade Huang Siyou, Chief Engineer of the Zhangzhou-Shantou High-Speed Rail Project of China Railway No.2 Engineering Group Co., Ltd., combined his own experience to give a special teaching session entitled “Construction of Continuous Beam by Cantilever Pouring”.

Focusing on the formwork trolley cantilever pouring technology, he explained the key technical links and quality control points in an accessible way. While mastering professional knowledge, the students truly appreciated the hardworking spirit of “Party members taking the lead in work and bravely tackling technical problems”, and deeply understood the value of integrating personal ideals into the great cause of national development.

At the Dongli River Intelligent Control Center, students observed the digital management and control platform at close range and learned about the innovative applications of intelligent construction technologies in engineering progress, safety and quality, equipment operation and maintenance.

The platform-based, digital and visual management mode gave students a more intuitive understanding of how “Party Building + Intelligent Construction” empowers major engineering construction, and broadened their professional vision of the digital transformation of civil engineering.

At the construction site of the continuous beam at Pier 307 crossing the Dongli River, teachers and students inspected the formwork trolley operation on the spot. Comparing with knowledge learned in class, they observed key processes such as segment pouring, prestressed tensioning and closure segment construction, deeply experiencing the rigor and complexity of bridge construction and the craftsmanship of builders pursuing excellence.

In the afternoon, the study team moved to the precast beam yard of the Zhangzhou-Shantou High-Speed Rail project of China Railway No.12 Engineering Group Co., Ltd. On-site technicians explained the whole process of box girder prefabrication in detail — from steel bar binding and formwork installation, to concrete pouring, intelligent tensioning and grouting, as well as intelligent maintenance and storage of finished beams.

Students fully understood the technical advantages of standardized production, mechanized operation and full-process quality control of precast beams, and systematically mastered the industrial construction mode of bridge superstructures. From poured beam segments to the future steel dragons crossing rivers, what students deeply felt was not only the subtlety of mechanics, but also a vivid reflection of builders in the new era obeying the Party’s command and striving with dedication.

Throughout this practical teaching activity, Party building guidance ran through the whole process. Through immersive and experiential learning, students not only consolidated core professional knowledge such as continuous beam cantilever pouring construction and precast beam production, but also truly felt the fighting fortress role of grassroots Party organizations and the exemplary strength of Party members. It further strengthened their professional identity, career ideals and faith in “serving the country through engineering”.

Students said that they would take this practice as a new starting point, closely combine classroom knowledge with engineering practice, work hard to strengthen their abilities and lay a solid foundation in future studies, and strive to become qualified builders and reliable successors in the new era trusted by the Party and the people.

In the future, the Faculty Party Branch of the Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering will continue to deepen the “Party Building + Major” education model, expand practical platforms for major engineering projects, guide more students to go to the frontline and temper their skills, so as to lay a solid foundation for cultivating high-quality civil engineering talents with both moral integrity and professional competence who shoulder the mission of national rejuvenation.