CESE Held Seminar on Discipline Competition Work for 2025

To deepen the reform of innovation and entrepreneurship education and stimulate students' enthusiasm for scientific and technological innovation, the College of Environmental Science and Engineering (CESE) at Tongji University held its 2025 Annual Seminar on Advancing Discipline Competition Work and Experience Sharing on May 21, 2025. The seminar was chaired by Professor Liu Jia, Deputy Director of the National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center for Environmental Science and Engineering and Head of the Environmental Science and Technology Innovation Talent Training Base. Nearly 20 attendees participated in the meeting, including Lu Lijun, Deputy Secretary of the College Party Committee; Li Lei, Acting Vice Dean of the Undergraduate School; heads of various discipline competitions; and representatives of competition mentors. The seminar focused on reviewing the achievements from past competitions and outlined the key priorities for promoting discipline competition work in the upcoming academic year.

It was reported that during the 2024–2025 academic year, CESE achieved outstanding performance in numerous domestic and international discipline competitions. From organizing national-level competitions to collaborating on regional events, and from joint teacher-student innovations to the transformation of results into practical applications, both faculty and students demonstrated impressive professional competence, an innovative spirit, and strong teamwork. Notably, the college achieved a breakthrough in international competitions. At the China Qualifier of the DWA Global University Challenge, the Tongji University team gave a remarkable all-English presentation and won first prize, earning the opportunity to compete in the global finals in Germany later this year. Furthermore, CESE co-organized the AI-Assisted Pollution Source Monitoring Point Layout Technology Competition under the Belt and Road & BRICS Skills Development and Technology Innovation Competition framework. This initiative has added an international track to support cross-border exchanges in the smart water management field. The winning team from this competition will represent China in the ASEAN regional round.

Domestically, CESE also attained significant results. At the 2024 China International College Students' Innovation Competition, the college won four gold, three silver, and two bronze medals in the Shanghai division. In the National Environment-Friendly Technology Competition, co-hosted with Tsinghua University and Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, CESE’s teams garnered multiple awards across the East and South China regions, continuing to push forward innovation in environmental science and technology. Additionally, in collaboration with the Harbin Institute of Technology, the college co-organized the National Undergraduate Municipal-Environmental Innovation and Practical Skills Competition. Two CESE teams stood out, winning the Special Prize and First Prize in 2024, respectively.

Looking ahead to 2025, CESE plans to expand the scale and scope of the "Undergraduate Sustainable Water Treatment Competition" by incorporating experimental skills, artificial intelligence design, and principles of green design. The competition aims to present the appeal of environmental disciplines through an engaging, lightweight, and interdisciplinary approach that stimulates student interest in research while cultivating innovative and systematic thinking. Furthermore, CESE will actively participate in competitions recognized by the Ministry of Education, such as the National Undergraduate Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Social Practice and Technology Competition, the National 3D Digital Innovation Design Competition, the National Undergraduate Energy Economics Academic Innovation Competition, and the National Undergraduate Life Sciences Competition. These engagements aim to encourage environmental students to integrate their practical achievements and creative ideas into broader interdisciplinary platforms.