Following deliberation and approval by the Tsinghua University Degree Evaluation Committee, Nie Hailiang, a doctoral candidate from the School of Environment, was awarded the professional doctorate degree in engineering. Nie is the first engineering doctoral candidate at Tsinghua University to apply for the degree based on practice-oriented outputs.

This breakthrough represents a significant milestone in Tsinghua University’s continuous efforts to reform its degree evaluation system and build a robust quality assurance system for practical achievements. It marks a solid step forward for the university in innovating high-quality engineering talent development and evaluation mechanisms.

On January 1, 2025, the academic degrees law officially took effect, explicitly recognizing both “theses” and “practice-oriented outputs” as important bases for degree application for the first time at the legal level. In response to the national requirements for professional degree graduate education reform, the Resource and Environment Professional Subcommittee of the Tsinghua University Degree Evaluation Committee and the School of Environment established a special working group, with guidance and support from the university. This group actively explored mechanisms and measures for degree application based on practical achievements, using the first case—Nie Hailiang’s application—to study standardized procedures, establish evaluation criteria, and finalize the required material list.

On July 25, the School of Environment organized a Demonstration and Assessment Meeting for Nie Hailiang’s practical achievement, titled “Research and Application of Electric Arc Melting Reduction and Separation Technology and Equipment for Dust from Steelmaking Electric Furnaces,” at CITIC Pacific Special Steel in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province. The expert panel reviewed the summary report and supporting materials of the practical achievement, listened to the summary presentation, conducted an on-site inspection, and engaged in thorough inquiry and discussion. They unanimously agreed that the practical achievement passed the demonstration and assessment.

Group Photo of the Expert Group and Mentor Group at the On-site Practice-Oriented Outputs Exhibition & Appraisal

On-site Venue for Practice-Oriented Outputs Exhibition, Appraisal & Inspection

Report Meeting on Practice-Oriented Outputs Exhibition & Appraisal

On September 12, the School of Environment held the Practical Achievement Defense Meeting for the engineering doctoral candidate. The Defense Committee, comprising 3 professors including Academician Hao Jiming of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and 3 industry experts from the metallurgy and hazardous waste fields, concluded that the practical achievement successfully tackled core and key technologies, such as the electric arc melting reduction of steel dust and the efficient capture of smoke and dust. This achievement resolved relevant “bottleneck” problems and holds significant value for promotion, application, and economic and social benefits. Following a vote, the Defense Committee unanimously approved Nie Hailiang’s practical achievement defense.

On-site Defense of Practice-Oriented Outputs

Moving forward, Tsinghua University will continue to deepen the reform of graduate education evaluation, actively explore diversified pathways for professional degree graduate training, and promote the close integration of degree conferral with major national strategic needs, thereby contributing to the development of excellent engineers for the new era.

Editor: Zhang Nannan