From June 5 to 6, an ASIIN accreditation expert team from Germany visited our university to conduct an on-site evaluation of the Civil Engineering program. The expert panel consisted of five domestic and international experts: Prof. Hans-Joachim Balster from Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (Germany), Prof. Joaquín Díaz from Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (Germany), Ms. Laura Luke, Project Manager at ASIIN Consult GmbH, Dr. Shi Fangzhi from Wirtgen (China) Machinery Co., Ltd., and Dr. Du Xi from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology.

On the morning of the 5th, the on-site professional accreditation meeting was held in the Second Meeting Room of the university. Yi Bing, Deputy Party Secretary and President of the university, provided an overview of the institution. President Yi Bing highlighted that in recent years, the university has actively explored international cooperations and aligned itself with international accreditation systems to continuously enhance the quality of its academic programs. He emphasized that this accreditation serves not only as a comprehensive assessment of the Civil Engineering program’s development, but also as a valuable opportunity to learn from advanced international educational concepts. It will guarantee that the program keeps up with international standards and boost its global recognition and competitiveness.

During the meeting, the expert panel engaged in in-depth discussions with university representatives on various aspects, including program development, talent cultivation, international exchanges, and quality assurance mechanisms. Representatives from relevant departments provided detailed responses to the experts’ questions.

During the two-day evaluation, the expert team conducted a comprehensive review of the program development through various methods including interviews, on-site visits, and document analysis. The experts held discussions with the program director, faculty representatives, student representatives, and industry representatives to gain in-depth insights into areas such as faculty development, student recruitment and employment, and teaching practices. Additionally, they carried out on-site inspections of relevant teaching facilities.

On the afternoon of the 6th, the expert team held a feedback session. The experts highly acknowledged the achievements of the Civil Engineering program in talent cultivation and, based on ASIIN accreditation standards, provided constructive suggestions regarding curriculum integration, interdisciplinary teaching, and industry-university collaboration.

At the feedback meeting, Huang Xin, Secretary of the University Party Committee, expressed gratitude for the expert team’s diligent work. Huang emphasized that this accreditation serves as a crucial opportunity for the university to advance the construction of emerging engineering disciplines and promote the internationalization of higher education. The university will earnestly incorporate the experts’ recommendations, align with international standards, and continuously improve the talent training system to cultivate talents with a global perspective and innovative spirit. The goal is to genuinely use accreditation to drive construction, reform, and development.

It is reported that ASIIN is Germany’s most authoritative accreditation agency for higher education in natural and engineering sciences, as well as a founding member of the European Accreditation of Engineering Programs (EUR-ACE). Engineering degrees accredited by ASIIN enjoy greater international recognition. Our university is the first institution in Hunan Province to undergo an on-site evaluation by ASIIN.

(Reviewed by Wang Jiayi, Wang Xingzhou)