In early September, the School of Civil Engineering and Transportation at Yangzhou University will welcome its first cohort of "low-altitude+" undergraduates, developed jointly with the Graduate School of the China Aeronautical Establishment. Two targeted classes, comprising 60 students in total, are scheduled to commence their programs, marking a significant step in nurturing talent for the rapidly growing low-altitude economy sector.
The aviation industry serves as the leading sector within Yangzhou's "613" industrial system, with the low-altitude economy identified as a key area for breakthrough development. As a number of aviation science and technology innovation platforms have been established in the city, scenarios involving low-altitude aircraft manufacturing, low-altitude infrastructure, and operational services are expanding rapidly. This growth has created an urgent demand for interdisciplinary professionals skilled in infrastructure development, airspace management, and safety control.
The establishment of this joint training program represents a proactive move by the university to align with the local pillar industry. Professor Deng Shejun, Dean of the School of Civil Engineering and Transportation at Yangzhou University, described the initiative as "not an ordinary class, but a talent pilot zone positioned for the future of the low-altitude economy." He noted that this collaborative effort is a crucial step following the university's selection as one of the first institutions nationwide to establish a "Low-Altitude Economy Smart Learning Workshop / MIIT International Low-Altitude Economy Industry College," signifying that talent cultivation has officially been integrated into the national strategy and regional development agenda.
Under this initiative, Yangzhou University and the Graduate School of the China Aeronautical Establishment will jointly deliver undergraduate programs in two majors: traffic engineering and engineering management, featuring a "dual-supervisor system" guided by industry frontier practices. The Graduate School will select outstanding faculty to contribute to the co-development of professional courses and teaching materials, while integrating real-world cases and industry standards from fields such as aviation low-altitude traffic, airworthiness management, and systems engineering into the teaching process. Additionally, under equal conditions, the China Aeronautical Establishment will give priority to graduates of this joint program for admission to its master's and doctoral programs in engineering-related fields.
As one of the first 11 universities nationwide approved for such programs, Yangzhou University is leveraging its position as a key node city in the Yangtze River Delta and the development needs of the aviation industry new city to drive comprehensive interdisciplinary transformation of traditional disciplines through the "low-altitude+" approach. In August of this year, the School of Civil Engineering and Transportation officially launched a micro-major in "Low-Altitude Traffic Intelligent Control," offering five core modules including airspace management, flight control, and low-altitude traffic system simulation. The curriculum focuses on application scenarios such as drone logistics, urban air mobility, and emergency rescue, aiming to cultivate versatile professionals who understand technology, excel at management, and are capable of practical application.
"We are not chasing trends, but responding to the genuine needs of the industry," said Zhang Yan, Party Secretary of the School. Over the past year, the school has conducted more than 20 research visits to local government bodies including the Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport, and the Municipal Transportation Industry Group. These visits have enabled the school to accurately assess the current state of local low-altitude infrastructure development, airspace management, and safety supervision, thereby informing and refining its talent cultivation framework.
At present, the school has established a "Low-Altitude Economy Virtual Teaching and Research Office" and is taking the lead in setting up the Yangzhou Key Laboratory for Low-Altitude Transportation Systems and Intelligent Control. In collaboration with the China Aeronautical Establishment (Yangzhou) Science and Technology Innovation Center, the school is conducting technical research focused on low-altitude takeoff and landing facility planning, airspace route optimization, and flight risk prevention and control. Furthermore, cooperation agreements have been signed with more than ten central and local low-altitude sector management agencies and technology enterprises, including the Yangzhou Low-Altitude Flight Service Center, AVIC Airborne Systems Common, Jiangsu New Yang New Materials, Jiangsu Qinyou General Airport, and Yangzhou Digital Intelligence Unmanned Technology, to establish joint practice bases.