From July 21 to 23, 2026, the 2nd Symposium on Innovative Development of Energy and Power Specialties was successfully convened in Hohhot. Rooted in the development requirements of the “Dual‑Carbon” goals, the symposium aimed to build an exchange platform for discussing the revised rules for engineering education accreditation and advancing specialty development. Co‑hosted by the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering and the Teaching Steering Committee for Energy and Power‑Related Majors under the Ministry of Education, the event was undertaken by the School of Energy and Power Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, with support from Xihua University. More than 260 faculty representatives of energy‑and‑power‑related specialties from nearly 100 universities nationwide, including Xi’an Jiaotong University, Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Tianjin University and North China Electric Power University, attended the conference.

He Yaling, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chairperson of the Teaching Steering Committee for Energy and Power‑Related Majors under the Ministry of Education and Chairperson of the Energy and Power Speciality Committee of China Engineering Education Accreditation Association; He Jingjing, Deputy Secretary‑General of China Engineering Education Accreditation Association; and Baoyin Hexi, Deputy Party Secretary and President of Inner Mongolia University of Technology, delivered opening‑ceremony addresses. Chen Guoping, Vice‑President of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering, gave an opening speech and presented an invited keynote report. Shen Yanhong, Deputy Secretary‑General of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering, presided over the opening ceremony.

He Yaling pointed out that the Energy and Power Speciality Committee and the Teaching Steering Committee for Energy and Power‑Related Majors shall closely align with the 15th Five‑Year Plan and the “Dual‑Carbon” strategic deployment, actively carry out accreditation work and continuously promote teaching‑reform innovation. She briefly interpreted core revisions in the 2024 accreditation standards, and put forward development suggestions covering specialty construction, industry‑education integration and interdisciplinary integration. She called on participating universities to deepen teaching reforms, steadily improve talent‑training quality, foster interdisciplinary energy‑sector talents, and support the building of a strong country in education and energy.

Chen Guoping stated that as the secretariat host institution for the Energy and Power Speciality Committee, the Society will continue to provide solid support and services for engineering education accreditation of energy‑and‑power‑related specialties, deepen university‑enterprise integration, and contribute to higher‑quality talent cultivation. He delivered an invited report entitled Functional Positioning and Technological Development Directions of Various Power Sources in the New‑type Power System. From the perspective of profound shifts in power‑source mix, power grid framework and equipment within the new‑type power system, he analyzed its “changes and constants”, focused on two major challenges of power balance and system stability, and offered proposals on functional positioning of different power sources and future technological development priorities.

The conference featured invited keynote presentations, experience‑sharing sessions and technical site visits. At the plenary session, more than ten distinguished experts and scholars including Zhang Xinxin, former President of University of Science and Technology Beijing and Vice‑Chairperson of the Energy and Power Speciality Committee; Xie Junlin, Professor of Beijing University of Technology and Supervisor of the Board of Supervisors of China Engineering Education Accreditation Association; Le Qinghua, Professor of East China University of Science and Technology and Member of the Academic Committee of China Engineering Education Accreditation Association; Chen Daoxu, Professor of Nanjing University, Executive Director and Vice‑Chairperson of the Academic Committee of China Engineering Education Accreditation Association; and Yu Zitao, Professor of Zhejiang University and Member of the Energy and Power Speciality Committee, interpreted relevant standards, shared practical experience and answered operational questions regarding engineering education accreditation philosophies, teaching‑system development, student training criteria and undergraduate specialty construction. Lively discussions, on‑site Q&A and problem‑solving exchanges took place among participants, with delegates from various universities speaking actively, fulfilling the expected objectives of the conference. After the presentations, participants visited the Key Laboratory of Wind and Solar Energy Utilization Technology of the Ministry of Education, affiliated to the School of Energy and Power Engineering. Concurrently, the meeting of the Energy and Power Speciality Committee was held to review accreditation conclusions and self‑evaluation reports for the first half of 2026.

The successful convening of the 2nd Symposium on Innovative Development of Energy and Power Specialties brings fresh ideas, higher objectives and targeted guidance for the innovative development of China’s energy‑and‑power‑related specialties. It serves as an outstanding exchange platform to further advance engineering education accreditation and boost high‑quality development of such specialties. Energy and power disciplines are critical for delivering the “Dual‑Carbon” goals. The Society will remain committed to advancing high‑quality development of energy‑and‑power‑related specialties, work with all stakeholders to advance the construction of the new‑type power system, keep abreast of the energy‑transition trend, and contribute to achieving high‑level self‑reliance in science and technology within the energy and power sector.