The School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering at South China University of Technology is located on the shores of West Lake on the Wushan Campus of South China University of Technology. Established in January 2008, it was formed by the merger of the former School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Industrial Equipment and Control Engineering, and School of Automotive Engineering. It is one of the largest Schools at South China University of Technology. The School boasts a long history, dating back to the establishment of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1918.
The School comprises the Department of Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering, the Department of Mechatronics Engineering, the Department of Mechanics, the Department of Automotive Engineering, the Department of Intelligent Process Equipment and Safety Engineering, the Institute of Advanced Polymer Manufacturing, the Institute of Metal Materials Preparation, Forming, and Equipment, and the Engineering Training Center. The School boasts nine innovative research centers, including Intelligent Polymer Manufacturing, Precision Equipment and Intelligent Robotics, Intelligent Electric Vehicles, Industrial Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Measurement and Control and High-End Equipment, Laser and Additive Manufacturing, High-Performance Manufacturing of Functional Structures and Devices, Industrial Software, and Smart Security and Emergency Innovation. The School boasts nearly 40,000 square meters of teaching, research, and office space, housing nearly 20,000 scientific instruments and equipment. The School boasts two national engineering research centers, one national engineering laboratory, two national-local joint engineering laboratories, 22 provincial and ministerial scientific research bases, and three national experimental teaching demonstration centers.
The School currently has 283 faculty members, including 84 professors. It boasts two Ministry of Education innovation teams, one academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, one National Outstanding Teacher, one Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professor, two recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and 19 national-level talents. In the past five years, the School has received 47 national, provincial, and ministerial scientific research awards (including five first-class provincial and ministerial science and technology awards and 13 second-class provincial and ministerial science and technology awards), eight China Excellent Patent Awards, 2,247 authorized patents, and 5,878 published papers in the three major indexes.
The School offers six undergraduate majors: Mechanical Engineering (a national first-class undergraduate program, a national specialty program, and a Guangdong Province famous brand program), Mechatronics Engineering (a national first-class undergraduate program, and a Guangdong Province famous brand program), Intelligent Vehicle Engineering (a provincial first-class undergraduate program), Process Equipment and Control Engineering (a national first-class undergraduate program), Materials Forming and Control Engineering (a provincial first-class undergraduate program), and Safety Engineering (a national first-class undergraduate program). The School also offers two specialty programs: the Mechanical Innovation Program (a combined undergraduate-master's and undergraduate-doctoral program) and the Mechanical Engineering (Excellent Bilingual Program). Mechanical Engineering, Vehicle Engineering, and Safety Engineering have all successfully passed the China Engineering Education Professional Certification. Currently, the School has over 2,500 full-time undergraduate students.
The School has three postdoctoral research centers in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics. It offers three first-level doctoral programs in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics; four academic master's programs in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics, and Safety Science and Engineering; three engineering doctoral programs in Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Chemical Engineering, and Resources and Environment; and three full-time master's programs in Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Chemical Engineering, and Resources and Environment. In the fourth round of national disciplinary evaluation, the School's Mechanical Engineering program received an A- rating. Currently, the School has over 1,600 graduate students.
After years of development, the School has become a key center for high-level talent development and scientific research in intelligent manufacturing, vehicle, and materials processing engineering nationwide, particularly in South China. Adhering to a student-centered educational philosophy, the School is committed to cultivating future leaders and leaders in related industries with a well-rounded knowledge structure, comprehensive abilities, innovative thinking, an international perspective, and a strong sense of patriotism. At the new starting point of historical development, the School will uphold the SCUT motto of “extensive learning, careful thinking, clear judgment, and steadfast practice”, carry forward the SCUT spirit of “virtue, learning, self-improvement, pragmatism, innovation, and pursuit of excellence”, forge ahead with courage and determination, and contribute wisdom and strength to the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
