Based on the guiding principles set forth in President Xi Jinping’s important speech during his inspection of HEU, Harbin Engineering University is advancing its ideological and political education curriculum with renewed vigor in the new era. Confronted with evolving circumstances and tasks, the university is forging distinctive brand courses that embody Chinese characteristics, national defense traditions, industrial-informational features, shipbuilding-marine-nuclear strengths, and Heilongjiang regional attributes. These initiatives aim to firmly establish among students the aspiration to serve the country through scientific and technological excellence.

On the morning of June 7, the sounding of a military bugle heralded a distinctive ideological and political education course at Harbin Engineering University. Mr. Zhang Haibin, Deputy Chief Engineer and Principal Expert of China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s MARIC (708 Research Institute), Chief Designer of China’s first ocean drilling vessel “Mengxiang”, and HEU’s distinguished alumnus (Class of 1995), delivered an address titled “Innovation Driven Breakthroughs: Charting the Self-Reliance Journey of ‘Mengxiang’ Ocean Drilling Vessel” to the faculty and student representatives.

Over 700 attendees participated in the lecture in person, including: Faculty and student representatives from the School of Marxism; Select faculty and student members from the College of Shipbuilding Engineering; Class of 2024 representatives taking Compendium of Modern Chinese History; Class of 2023 and 2024 representatives enrolled in Current State Affairs and Policy courses.

Leading the MARIC R&D team over a decade-long collaborative effort with participating institutions, Zhang Haibin spearheaded breakthroughs in over fifty core technologies across 10 major categories. This culminated in developing China;s first fully independent ocean drilling vessel with proprietary intellectual property rights, achieving significant performance enhancement and operational cost efficiency. Through his presentation, faculty and students gained firsthand insights into the human endeavor behind this national strategic asset.

The Spirit of Harbin Military Engineering Institute Flows in Our Lifeblood

Foster the Aspiration to Study in Response to Our Nation’s Calls

““Through mentor guidance and research empowerment, we must uphold rigorous and pragmatic scholarship while embracing innovative vision — tackling real-world issues with novel approaches.” Zhang Haibin, who completed all academic degrees at Harbin Engineering University, reflected that the military bugle calls marking class transitions and faculty mentorship ingrained the Harbin Military Engineering Legacy into his professional DNA. This instilled in him the undergraduate commitment to pursue knowledge where national priorities demand. His HEU experience forged a professional ethos of rigor, diligence, and innovation. “When confronting professional obstacles,” he noted, “reflecting on this formative journey always renews boundless fortitude.”

“Strategic guidance charts our course, knowledge empowerment fortifies technical foundations, technological innovation breaks developmental barriers, and collaborative synergy propels us toward success.” Drawing from his research journey, Zhang offered this counsel to the youth: Prioritize mastering fundamental theories while expanding interdisciplinary knowledge and cultivating lifelong learning habits. Embrace problem-oriented approaches in technological innovation, confront challenges with resilience, and transcend conventional thinking for optimal solutions. Proactively align personal aspirations with national strategies for maritime and scientific advancement. Equip yourselves with cutting-edge expertise through rigorous academic training, evolving into goal-driven professionals with erudition, innovative thinking, and collaborative spirit—tomorrow’s backbone force enabling China’s self-reliance in high-caliber science and technology.

In the name of “Mengxiang”

Propelling China’s deep-sea exploration technology to new horizons

Since antiquity, the “Earth’s Gateway” has remained shrouded in mystery, captivating human imagination. To seek, unlock, and embrace it represents the collective aspiration of scientists worldwide. Zhang declared, “My dream is to deliver an ocean drilling vessel that is both accessible and reliable for our scientific community.”

Guided by seven core design imperatives—affordability, seaworthiness, payload capacity, speed efficiency, operational stability, drilling depth, and measurement precision, Zhang spearheaded his team’s decade-long dedicated efforts. Embracing the “compact tonnage, multifunctionality, modular design” philosophy, they successfully integrated diverse deep-sea capabilities including scientific ocean drilling, hydrocarbon exploration, and natural gas hydrate extraction within a single vessel. This breakthrough achievement secured proprietary intellectual property rights and set multiple world records.

During the course, Zhang vividly recounted the scientific research journey in an accessible manner. To meet the navigational clearance requirements for the “Mengxiang” cross-sea bridge, the team had to reduce the ship’s air draft to under 84.5 meters—nearly 40% lower than Japan’s “Chikyu” ocean drilling vessel! Confronted with this challenge, the team proposed a series of innovative solutions, including a recessed moonpool and collapsible ventilation pipes. These designs not only perfectly resolved the height constraint but also enabled efficient pre-assembly storage and deployment of three-stand drill pipes within the derrick. This breakthrough achieved dual benefits in both navigational adaptability and operational efficiency, fully demonstrating the ingenuity of Chinese engineers.

“Throughout the design and construction of the ‘Mengxiang’, the collaborative efforts and innovative synergy among participating research and construction partners were indispensable. The research team from our alma mater played a pivotal role in overcoming fundamental technical challenges,” stated Zhang Haibin. Harbin Engineering University leveraged its distinctive strength in comprehensive marine disciplines, which crucially ensured the vessel's timely delivery.

Cultivate the Aspiration to Build a Strong Country and Military

Let Youth Shine in the Great Cause of National Rejuvenation

Students of HEU carry forward the spirit of its predecessor, the Harbin Military Engineering Institute. Through diligent study and dedicated research, they scale new heights in science. Their endeavors not only demonstrate the lofty aspirations and enterprising spirit of contemporary Chinese youth, but also embody, through concrete actions, the core values of prioritizing the nation’s needs, committing to national defense imperatives, and upholding the people’s satisfaction as the ultimate measure of success.

During this ideological and political education course, two student representatives from the College of Shipbuilding Engineering presented their scientific and technological innovations. They submitted this unique “assignment” to their senior alumnus, Zhang Haibin. And Zhang commented: “The nation is placing increasing emphasis on scientific and technological innovation in the shipbuilding and marine sectors. The maritime industry holds vast development potential. I hope you will delve deeper into this field, demonstrating the perseverance to sit on the solitary bench and the tenacity to gnaw through the toughest bones, thereby contributing to the building of China as a maritime power.”

Zhang also provided detailed responses to questions from faculty and students regarding the development trends in shipbuilding and marine technology, as well as future career prospects. The students professed that they benefited immensely and felt profoundly inspired.

Two students from the College of Shipbuilding Engineering shared their reflections. The 2023 undergraduate stated: “It was an immense privilege to attend the lecture by our distinguished alumnus Mr. Zhang. I was deeply inspired and filled with pride. I will follow his example: mastering the fundamentals, embracing exploration, and fueling my deep-sea aspirations to contribute to China's shipbuilding and marine endeavors in the future.”

And the 2021 undergraduate added: “As a final-year student in the major of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, I am committed to embodying the spirit of the Harbin Military Engineering Institute. I will integrate my personal growth with national development, pursuing excellence in engineering, seeking truth in research, and striving to become a reliable, competent, exceptional, and innovative professional in the maritime field.”

A 2021 undergraduate from the School of Marxism said: “The success of the ‘Mengxiang’ stems from the courage to start from scratch and the perseverance of a decade of meticulous refinement. This course was not merely knowledge transfer, but the passing on of a profound sense of duty. As a student of Harbin Engineering University in the new era, I dedicate myself to diligent study and unwavering innovation, contributing my youthful intellect and energy to the nation's progress.”

Zhang Haibin signed the banner for the university’s flagship of ideological and political education course and inscribed messages of encouragement for students, creating an electrifying atmosphere on site.

“What kind of people we should cultivate, how, and for whom”—these are the fundamental issues that education must address, and they are also the core imperatives for building a strong educational nation. As pivotal courses for fulfilling the fundamental task of fostering virtue and nurturing talent, HEU consistently prioritizes the development of high-caliber ideological and political education. The university vigorously champions the spirit of its predecessor, the Harbin Military Engineering Institute, adopting a strategic, systematic approach to deepen the substantive development of these courses. By inviting Party and government leaders, military generals, chief engineers, distinguished alumni, and industry pioneers to lecture in these classrooms, HEU bridges micro-level student development with macro-level national progress, effectively connecting the “small classroom” of ideological education with the “grand classroom” of society.