To enhance the innovation and engineering competence of undergraduate students, this study proposes a modular and progressive practical curriculum system based on three platforms: innovative design, advanced manufacturing, and automation/robotics/artificial intelligence. Diverse practical activities—including scientific research practice, engineering projects, industrial internships, competitions, innovation/entrepreneurship programs, and integrated design tasks—are designed to align with teaching objectives. To enhance effectiveness, a quality assurance mechanism spanning the entire project lifecycle is implemented. This includes establishing a diverse practice project library, standardizing credit certification procedures, assembling interdisciplinary mentorship teams, and adopting process-oriented evaluation that emphasizes both explicit outcomes (e.g., prototypes, patents) and implicit competencies (e.g., problem-solving, teamwork). Furthermore, a school-enterprise collaboration platform is established to integrate industry challenges into curricula, enabling students to address real-world engineering issues. Through the deep integration of “production-learning-research-application”, this framework bridges education, talent development, innovation, and industrial chains, thereby comprehensively improving students’ creativity, practical skills, and capacity to solve complex engineering problems.

1. Cao, J. (2022, May 18). [China’s overall level of higher education has entered the top tier globally]. Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. Retrieved Jul. 1, 2025, from. http://www.moe.gov.cn/fbh/live/2022/54453/mtbd/202205/t20220518_628487.html

2. Fu, T., Gong, L., Ding, H. S., & Ma, S. Q. (2020). [Exploration and Practice on Construction of Engineering Training Center under Background of New Era]. Experimental Technology and Management, 37(11), 246-249.

3. Kretschmann, J. (2024). Innovative engineering education for a better future. Engineering Education Review, 2, 101-108. https://doi.org/10.54844/eer.2024.0564

4. Hu, D. X., & Song, H. X. (2025). The elements and reform path of core competencies for excellent engineers in China. Engineering Education Review, 3(1), 1-10.

5. Liu, Y., Yang, X. F., Xu, L., & Wen, B. C. (2022). [Exploration on Construction Path for “Five-in-one” “Double first-class” University Engineering Training Center]. Experimental Technology and Management, 39(5), 244-249.

6. Mavrikios, D., Georgoulias, K., & Chryssolouris, G. (2019). The Teaching Factory Network: a new collaborative paradigm for manufacturing education. Procedia Manufacturing, 31, 398-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2019.03.062

7. Qian, J., Fu, J. Z., Xu, Z. N. Shen, H. K., & Tang, J. (2022). [Innovation System Construction of Engineering Training Center]. Laboratory Science, 25(5), 159-161.

8. Toivonen, V., Lanz, M., Nylund, H., & Nieminen, H. (2018). The FMS Training Center - a versatile learning environment for engineering education. Procedia Manufacturing, 23, 135-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2018.04.006

9. Tvenge, N., & Ogorodnyk, O. (2018). Development of evaluation tools for learning factories in manufacturing education. Procedia Manufacturing, 23, 33-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2018.03.157

10. Wang, S. X., Li, X., Zhang, F., Xie, Y. L., Wang, J. F., Ding, H., & Shao, X. Y. (2022). [Construction of intelligent manufacturing training practice teaching system for the cultivation of big engineering perspective]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 58(18), 319-332. https://doi.org/10.3901/jme.2022.18.319

11. Wei, Y., Lu, D., Li, Y, & Rong, Y. M. (2023). [Exploration and Construction of Three-dimensional Integrative Practice Teaching System: A Case Study at the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering of Southern University of Science and Technology]. Research in Higher Education of Engineering, (01), 37-43.

12. Yan, J., Duan, H.F., Han, W., & Tong, Z. (2021). [Research on the Construction of Provincial Engineering Training Demonstration Center for Applied Undergraduates]. Research and Exploration in Laboratory, 40(7), 144-148.