TJU Holds International Peer Review Conference for Civil Engineering Program

From November 6-9, 2019, Tianjin University held an International Peer Review Conference of the Civil Engineering Program. Nine internationally renowned scholars from civil engineering related fields were invited to serve as on-field review experts.

Tianjin University’s civil engineering program was one of the four major programs of Peiyang University (the predecessor of Tianjin university) when it was founded in 1895. With a long history and profound academic accumulation, it has become a traditional and dominant program of Tianjin University, ranking A- in the 4^thround of program assessments carried out by the Ministry of Education.

Responding to China’s major strategy to promote world-class universities and first-class programs, this review conference examines the current development of the Civil Engineering Program of Tianjin University from an international perspective, and measures the development level of this program with international standards so as to gather wisdom, set a clear direction and establish a guideline for the long-term development of Tianjin University’s civil cngineering program.

International experts, university leaders, representatives of teachers and students attend the Opening Ceremony of the International Peer Review Conference of the Civil Engineering Program

On November 7th, the opening ceremony was held in the Conference Building Seven on the Weijin Road Campus. Gu Yao, one of the university’s party committee members and general accountant, delivered a welcome speech. He expressed the hope that through this conference, experts could have a deeper understanding of the civil engineering program at Tianjin University and give valuable suggestions for the further development of the program. Meanwhile, He urged the teachers and students of the Department of Civil Engineering to cherish the opportunity to learn from the experts, and with the review results as the reference, to boost the program development.

At the Opening Ceremony, Yao Gu delivers a welcome speech on behalf of the University

The peer review contained four parts, namely, an internal program review, the on-field expert’s review, a comprehensive expert review and follow-up program improvement. Before the on-field expert reviews, the Civil Engineering Program had conducted a preliminary self-evaluation. They prepared and submitted an internal review report, which introduced the general status of the program, including teaching, talent training, scientific research, social services, international cooperation, and development strategies.

During the two-day on-field review, Minglie Hu, Director of the Discipline Development Office of the Graduate School, introduced the general situation of Tianjin University’s programs to the peer review experts. Yanchao Shi, Associate Dean of the School of Civil Engineering, reported the work on the self-evaluation and talent training of the civil engineering program. The representative members of six research teams of the civil engineering program reported the development of their individul research.

Based on the self-evaluation reports, the review panel visited the laboratories of the School of Civil Engineering, and had a discussion with faculty representatives and students on the topics of talent training, scientific research, program development, etc.

On the afternoon of November 8th, the International Peer Review Feedback Meeting of the civil engineering program was held on the Peiyangyuan Campus. The panel reviewed the current situation and planning of the civil engineering program in talent training, scientific research, social services, research teams, international cooperation and development strategies, and provided some suggestions for improving the international competitiveness of Tianjin University’s civil engineering program. The review panel pointed out that in order to achieve the goal of establishing a world-class civil engineering program, the program should formulate a strategic plan and a development roadmap integrating the short term, medium term and long term goals, and pool advantageous resources so as to become a world leader in some representative fields of scientific research. Moreover, attention should be paid to the cultivation of undergraduates and graduates with global vision, innovative spirit, basic theories and comprehensive quality.

Marija i. Todorovska provides feedback on the review results.

After the on-field review, the Review Panel will officially submit the International Peer Review Report of the Civil Engineering Program to Tianjin University in one month. With regards to the follow-up work, the Department of Civil Engineering will accomplish the improvement, as well as adjust the development plan of the Program and lay out the development directions of the Program according to the suggestions of the Review Panel.

There were nine on-field review experts. Marija I. Todorovska, Professor of the University of Southern California and Foreign Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, served as the Chair of the Review Panel. The Panel Members include Alberto Carpinteri, Professor of Politecnico di Torino, Academy of the European Academy of Sciences; Jinchun Chai, Professor of Saga University, Member of the Engineering Academy of Japan; Jie Han, the Glenn L.Parker Professor of the University of Kansas, the current Chairman of the ASCE Geo-Institute Soil Improvement Committee of America; Ahsan Kareem, the Robert M. Moran Professor of the University of Notre Dame, Member of the US National Academy of Engineering, Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Foreign Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (Communication Review); Atsushi Koizumi, Professor of Waseda University, Chairman of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE); Zongjin Li, Chair Professor of University of Macau, Fellow of the American Concrete Institute; Richard Liew Jat-Yuen, Professor of the National University of Singapore, Fellow of Academy of Engineering of Singapore; Mihailo D. Trifunac, Professor of the University of Southern California, Foreign Fellow of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Indian National Academy of Engineering and Yugoslav Academy of Engineering.

By the School of Engineering

Editors: Eva Yin & Doris Harrington