Exploration on an integrative specialty practice curriculum model for engineering students: A case study from China

The quality of first-class undergraduate education and teaching is an important foundation for the construction of first-class universities and first-class disciplines. In response to the call of the Chinese Government's “Excellent Engineer Education and Training Program” and “Double First-class”, school of astronautics of Beihang University began to explore a new specialty practice curriculum model for cultivating new engineering talents. We conducted a curriculum experiment which is featured by integrating three originally separate specialty practice courses (i.e., engineering practice, specialty course design and graduation design) with each other among some junior students majored flight vehicle propulsion. 32 students were divided into two groups, the experimental group and control group. The experimental results show students of the experimental group have achieved considerably higher scores than those of the control group and the level of significant statistical difference has been reached. In this paper, the implementation and results of the integrative specialty practice curriculum reform will be analyzed through mixed methods analysis using SPSS and NVivo. The interaction and relationships between the three specialty practice courses will also be explored.