Recently, the Department of Civil Engineering of BJUT held a symposium for self-appraisal of its first-class discipline development efforts. Eleven experts including Academicians Yang Yongbin of Chongqing University (chair of the expert group), Ou Jinping of Harbin Institute of Technology and Dalian University of Technology, and Chen Xiangsheng of Shenzhen University were invited to supervise the self-appraisal processes. President Liu Gonghui, Vice President and Discipline Director of Civil Engineering Du Xiuli attended the symposium together with heads of the Office of First-Class Discipline Development, Office of Reform and Development, and College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, and second-grade Professors of Civil Engineering. Jia Kebin, Director of First-Class Discipline Development, presided over the meeting.

President Liu Gonghui delivered remarks and introduced BJUT’s “Double First-Class” discipline development plans. President Liu Gonghui gave an account of BJUT’s progress from three aspects; overall situation, situation by discipline, and priorities for the next stage. He noted that the university put great emphasis on the interim self-appraisal. BJUT would act in strict accordance with documents issued by the Ministry of Education, analyze problems and gaps, and identify tasks and measures in the next stage to promote “Double First-Class” construction.

Professor Xu Chengshun, Deputy Dean of the College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, introduced the development of civil engineering at the symposium, covering talent cultivation, research, social services, teaching staff development, international collaborations and exchanges, etc. He analyzed the appropriateness of the goals set, the extent to which they were accomplished, landmark achievements, problems and measures for improvement.

Experts at the symposium listened to the reports and reviewed relevant self-appraisal materials. They inquired about the implementation of discipline development initiatives and reached a consensus of opinion. The expert group believed that noteworthy achievements and steady progress have been made within the civil engineering discipline. Different stages were marked by different features and problems were precisely identified. The experts offered valuable opinions and suggestions on how to highlight the characteristics of the discipline, determine future directions, improve basic research, etc.

In his summarizing remarks, Vice President Du Xiuli pointed out that the civil engineering people should absorb the experts’ opinions and suggestions, be aware of where they actually are, objectively reflect on their progress, and analyze both their potentials and problems. He hoped that everyone could spare no effort to think about the future layout of the discipline seriously, put forward important ideas, and work assiduously to build a first-class discipline.