On March 14th, a delegation from the PLCopen Organization visited the School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, and conducted in-depth discussions on the teaching reform and innovation in the field of engineering education. The two parties aim to promote the connection between the teaching of mechatronics-related majors and the industry frontier through concept exchange and resource sharing, and explore new paths for cultivating high-quality engineering talents who meet the needs of the intelligent manufacturing era. The PLCopen Organization is an international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting open standards for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). It is a global association independent of manufacturers and products, with its headquarters located in the Netherlands.

At the seminar, Professor Yan Yi, Chairman of PLCopen International Organization China Region, elaborated on the latest development trends of industrial automation technology. He focused on how PLC technology deeply integrates and reshapes industrial production processes in cutting-edge fields such as motion control, robotics, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). In line with these trends, the two parties held enthusiastic discussions on integrating the latest technologies into the existing curriculum system to enhance the timeliness and practicality of course content. For example, in courses such as "Computer Control Technology", project-driven teaching is adopted to enable students to master internationally advanced programming standards and control technologies through practice, thereby strengthening their ability to solve complex engineering problems.

The School of Mechanical Engineering showcased its achievements in teaching reform under the background of emerging engineering education to the PLCopen delegation, especially the practical experience in the construction of a multi-functional motion mechanism platform. This platform integrates various advanced technologies including PLC and motion control, realizing the digitalization, networking and intellectualization of teaching resources. The two parties conducted in-depth exchanges on further utilizing this platform to carry out engineering practice teaching based on international standards and cultivate students' international perspective and engineering literacy. They also reached preliminary consensus on cooperation directions such as co-constructing practical teaching resources and conducting international engineer training.

After the seminar, the delegation from the PLCopen Organization visited the laboratories and training bases of the School of Mechanical Engineering, and highly praised the college's investment and construction in practical teaching hardware facilities. Both parties stated that they will continue to deepen cooperation in the future, conduct regular academic exchanges and teacher training activities. By introducing internationally advanced teaching concepts and resources, they will help the School of Mechanical Engineering of Tianjin University of Science and Technology take more solid steps on the path of teaching reform, deliver more internationally competitive professional talents to China's industrial automation field, and promote the overall improvement of the industry's educational level. The School of Mechanical Engineering of Tianjin University of Science and Technology will further deepen the reform of emerging engineering education, combine with the implementation of Tianjin University of Science and Technology's "Pioneer Plan—Undergraduate Foundation Enhancement", cultivate more innovative talents in short supply in the country, and strive to develop students into high-quality talents who are good at solving complex engineering problems and have an international perspective.