Shenzhen

Cultivating excellence— Insights from Shenzhen Polytechnic’s field engineers 2024/10/24 source: Shenzhen Daily Print

Xu Pingli, Yan Shan

xupingli@szpu.edu.cn

RECENTLY, a research team from Shenzhen Polytechnic University conducted in-depth interviews with five distinguished field engineers, all alumni who graduated from the institution a decade ago. These engineers shared their journeys and insights, offering answers to the question: How are exceptional field engineers cultivated?

Core competency

When asked about the key trait of an outstanding field engineer, all interviewees gave a unanimous response: professional competence.

Chen Ziqi, a 2009 graduate of the Network Technology program and now a senior network engineer at the Shenzhen Big Data Resource Management Center, emphasized the importance of technical expertise. Reflecting on his career, Chen said, “The best skill is unquestionably professional technology. It’s essential.”

Chen also expressed deep passion for his chosen field, stating that he felt a natural connection to network technology. “Perhaps this is what people call fate,” he added.

Similarly, Zheng Wei, a 2011 graduate of the Numerical Control Technology program, ascended from technician to senior automation engineer at TCL Huaxing Optoelectronics within eight years. “First, you need strong technical skills,” Zheng said. “You also need to excel in day-to-day tasks, develop specialized knowledge, and have the ability to execute your ideas.”

When asked how their education nurtured their growth, Lin Rui credited the supportive role of his teachers in developing students' talents and fostering professional interests. He highlighted the importance of recognizing and supporting unconventional students.

“I had a genuine interest in my major, and my teacher acknowledged that,” Lin said, particularly praising teacher Wang Xueping for boosting his self-confidence. “Interest and confidence are key — they drive long-term dedication to technical research.”

Lin now serves as the manager of the commercial product department at Shenzhen KTC Computer Technology Co. Starting as a production line technician, he later led a team that achieved an annual output of more than 600 million yuan (US$84.84 million) within six years of graduating.

From employment to

entrepreneurship

Outstanding field engineers often evolve in their careers — from technicians to managers, from employees to entrepreneurs. They navigate job market uncertainties, overcome challenges in the workplace, and even launch their own businesses. Their success stems from a combination of advanced technical skills, perseverance, and integrity.

Chen Wenkang, for example, founded a high-tech company in Shenzhen 10 years ago, despite early financing difficulties. In 2019, he released the puzzle game “Brain Hole Master,” which quickly became a global success. By 2020, the game was among the top nine Chinese games expanding internationally, with over 900 million downloads. It also earned Google Play’s Best App award for three consecutive years. Chen’s philosophy? “Make sure you realize your full potential.”

Li Zengying, another successful entrepreneur, majored in software technology. After struggling to find employment upon graduation, Li established a software development company and later expanded into the lighting industry. “I have never stopped learning,” he said.

Li also emphasized the value of helping peers. “Competition is inevitable, whether you assist others or not,” he noted. “But helping others has not harmed my business — on the contrary, it has grown stronger.”

The essence of a great field engineer lies not only in technical expertise but also in sincerity, a willingness to help others, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Their aspirations are practical: to do what they love and lead a fulfilling life.

Outstanding engineer initiative

The concept of “outstanding engineers” originates from the Implementation of the Outstanding Engineer Education and Training Plan introduced by China’s Ministry of Education in 2011. This initiative defines three types of engineers: field engineers, design and development engineers, and research engineers, aligning with different educational levels — undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, respectively.

In 2022, the Ministry of Education, along with four other government departments, announced a special vocational education plan to cultivate field engineers. The goal is to train at least 200,000 field engineers across the nation by 2025, emphasizing craftsmanship, operational proficiency, leadership, collaboration, and innovation.

(Xu Pingli, Yan Shan are scholars from Shenzhen Humanities & Social Sciences Key Research Bases.)


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