Brief Introduction:
The Department of Vehicle Operation Engineering traces its origins to the Teaching and Research Section of Automotive Operation and Maintenance founded in 1957 by the former Changchun College of Automobile and Tractors with assistance from Soviet experts. It was renamed the Teaching and Research Section of Automotive Operation Engineering in 1959. In 1986, it became the Department of Automotive Operation Engineering under the School of Automobile Engineering of Jilin University of Technology. When the School of Transportation was established in 1992, the entire department was incorporated into the School of Transportation, and it was officially renamed the Department of Vehicle Operation Engineering in 1997.
Detailed Introduction:
The Department of Vehicle Operation Engineering offers two undergraduate programs: one is Transportation (Specialization in Automotive Operation Engineering and the Low-Altitude Traffic Technology Elite Program), and the other is Automotive Support Engineering (which suspended enrollment in 2024). Additionally, the department hosts the secondary discipline of Vehicle Operation Engineering and is authorized to confer both master’s and doctoral degrees in this field.
The discipline of Vehicle Operation Engineering began enrolling undergraduate students majoring in Automotive Operation and Maintenance in 1957, marking China’s first undergraduate program in this field. In 1959, upon the proposal of Professor Zhang Ye, the major was renamed Automotive Operation Engineering.
In 1961, Professor Zhang Ye started recruiting master’s students, marking a milestone in the development of the Automotive Operation Engineering program.
In 1981, with approval from the State Council, Automotive Operation Engineering became one of China’s first master’s degree programs.
In 1985, the doctoral program in Automotive Operation Engineering was officially approved, making it the first doctoral program in Vehicle Operation Engineering nationwide.
In 1987, Automotive Operation Engineering was designated as a Key Discipline under the former Ministry of Machine-Building Industry.
In 1997, to expand the coverage of the discipline, the State Education Commission renamed the major from Automotive Operation Engineering to Vehicle Operation Engineering, and the corresponding doctoral discipline was adjusted accordingly.
In 1998, the Ministry of Education renamed the original undergraduate major of Automotive Operation Engineering as Transportation (Specialization in Automotive Operation Engineering).
In 2002, Vehicle Operation Engineering was recognized as a Key Discipline of Jilin Province.
In 2003, the Ministry of Education approved the establishment of a doctoral program in Transportation Environment and Safety Technology under the Department of Vehicle Operation Engineering, Jilin University.
In 2004, the Ministry of Education authorized the undergraduate major of Automotive Service Engineering, which began enrolling students nationwide in 2005.
In 2012, the doctoral program in Transportation Environment and Safety Technology was discontinued and incorporated into the doctoral program of Vehicle Operation Engineering.
In 2014, Automotive Service Engineering was listed as a Provincial Brand Undergraduate Program Development Site of Institutions of Higher Education in Jilin Province.
In 2020, Transportation (Specialization in Automotive Operation Engineering, and Planning and Management) was included in the first group of National First-Class Undergraduate Major Construction Sites.
In 2024, to improve teaching quality and optimize the faculty-student ratio, the department voluntarily suspended enrollment for Automotive Service Engineering.
In 2025, to actively support the national strategy for developing the low-altitude economy, the department established the Transportation (Low-Altitude Traffic Technology Elite Program), and plans to begin admitting students in 2026.
I. Academic Faculty
The Department of Vehicle Operation Engineering currently has 27 faculty members, including 12 professors, 8 associate professors, 2 lecturers, and 1 senior engineers. 23 faculty members hold doctoral degrees, accounting for 85% of the total staff. The faculty boasts a well-balanced structure in terms of age, academic background, educational origin and professional title.
II. Program Introduction and Curriculum
(1) Undergraduate Program in Transportation (Specialization in Automotive Operation Engineering )
Program Overview: Closely following the national “boost China's strength in transportation” strategy, the Transportation program has established a distinctive system that deeply integrates “macroscopic traffic systems + microscopic vehicles”. Relying on two core concentrations, “Automotive Operation Engineering” and “Planning and Management”, it breaks traditional disciplinary boundaries to achieve a closed loop of “adapting vehicles to roads and optimizing roads for vehicles”. Students not only master traffic network planning, transport organization optimization, and skills in big-data management and governance, but also become proficient in vehicle performance principles and intelligent inspection and diagnostic technologies. This interdisciplinary talent cultivation model produces transportation professionals who truly understand vehicle characteristics.
The program vigorously promotes the cross-integration of “Transportation + Artificial Intelligence” and implements a dual-track mentoring system featuring “on-campus academic supervisors + off-campus practice mentors”. Following the philosophy of “broad scope, solid foundation, capacity emphasis, technical proficiency, strong practice, and innovation pursuit”, it builds a four-in-one model of “undergraduate-postgraduate integration, research training, academic competitions, and industrial practice”.
Rooted in historical heritage and powered by intelligent integration, the Transportation program is committed to delivering interdisciplinary professionals with leadership potential for the future of the industry through diverse program formats and comprehensive education model covering the entire training process.
Major Courses: Automotive Construction and Principles, Automotive Electronics and Control Technology, Automotive Intelligent Inspection and Diagnosis Technology, Automotive Application Engineering A, Traffic Engineering, Operations Research A, Traffic and Transportation Safety Engineering, Transport Technology Economics, Electrical Engineering B, Data Structures, Mechanical Principles A, Mechanical Design A, Theoretical Mechanics B.
Independent Practical Modules: Experiments and Internship of Automotive Application Engineering, Comprehensive Internship of Vehicle Handling Characteristics, Comprehensive Practice in Mechanical Design A, Experiments and Internship of Automotive Construction, Comprehensive Cognitive Practice of Automobiles, Innovative Design of Intelligent Vehicle Technology, Practice of New Energy Vehicle Technology, Production Internship in Automotive Application Enterprises, Comprehensive Practice of Automotive Inspection and Diagnosis, Comprehensive Practice of Intelligent Vehicle Environmental Perception, Open Innovative Experiments, Engineering Training B, Graduation Thesis (Project).
Featured Elective Courses: Fundamentals of Vehicle System Dynamics, Automotive Application Testing Technology, Vehicle Intelligent Connected Technology, Transportation Environmental Pollution and Control, Design and Evaluation of Driver Assistance Systems, Automotive Accident Engineering, Vehicle Operating Condition Design, Electric Vehicle Testing and Experimental Technology, Automotive Intelligent Vision Inspection Technology, Modern Automotive Sensing Technology, Vehicle Ergonomics, Vehicle Autonomous Navigation Technology, etc.
(2) Undergraduate Program in Transportation (Low-Altitude Traffic Technology Elite Program)
Program Overview: Building on the strong foundation of the Transportation program, the department has launched the forward-looking “Low-Altitude Traffic Technology Elite Program”. Focusing on the frontiers of the low-altitude economy, this elite program targets key technologies areas, including low-altitude vehicle design and development, intelligent navigation and environmental perception, low-altitude smart connectivity, and three-dimensional (3D) traffic management and control. Distinct from traditional ground transportation training, it emphasizes the “integration of transportation technologies with low-altitude aviation, and the combination of theory and practice.” The curriculum system covers a full-chain of knowledge from the introduction to low-altitude traffic and intelligent perception theory to 3D traffic management and control, highlighting the coordinated development of air-ground 3D traffic and regional low-altitude economy through small-class high-quality instruction.
Major Courses: Low-Altitude Technology and Engineering, Low-Altitude Intelligent Perception Technology, 3D Traffic Management and Design, Transport Technology Economics, Traffic and Transportation Safety Engineering, Operations Research A, Traffic Engineering, Automotive Application Engineering B, Electrical Engineering B, Data Structures, Mechanical Principles A, Mechanical Design A, Theoretical Mechanics B.
Independent Practical Modules: Comprehensive Practice in Mechanical Design A, Engineering Training B, Experiments and Internship of Automotive Construction, Comprehensive Cognitive Practice of Low-Altitude Vehicles, Comprehensive Internship of UAV Operation Characteristics, Comprehensive Practice in Air-Ground Intelligent Perception, Production Internship in Low-Altitude Economy Enterprises, Innovative Design of Intelligent Vehicle Technology, Comprehensive Design of 3D Traffic Systems, Open Innovative Experiments, “Renewal Program” Research Training, Graduation Thesis (Project), Course Experiment of Traffic Geographic Information System.
Featured Elective Courses: Low-Altitude Communication and Data Transmission, Vehicle Control Principles, Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Technology, Navigation and Positioning Technology, Traffic Geographic Information System, Vehicle Ergonomics, Design and Evaluation of Driver Assistance Systems, Transportation Environmental Pollution and Control, Electric Vehicle Testing and Experimental Technology, Aircraft Power System Design and Integration, AI Large Models and Traffic Applications, Automotive Vision and Artificial Intelligence, Introduction to Aircraft Design, Intelligent Connected and 3D Traffic, Traffic Travel Behavior Modeling, Resilient Cities and Urban Governance.
III. Cultivation Objectives (Undergraduate)
The program regards the independent cultivation of top-tier innovative talents as its noble mission and responsibility. It is committed to cultivating socialist builders and successors who possess a sense of national pride, critical and evaluative thinking, an innovative spirit, creative ability, a global vision, effective communication and collaboration skills, and achieve well-rounded development in moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor education.
Transportation Program: Approximately 5 years after graduation, alumni of this program should possess solid and systematic foundation in professional theory, strong engineering competence, excellent team leadership and strategic decision-making capabilities, and good digital and intelligent literacy. They should be able to leverage artificial intelligence technology to empower problem analysis and innovative practice; be able to engage in key roles in the road transportation sector, such as vehicle testing, operation and maintenance management, automotive technical support, traffic safety analysis and accident appraisal, and traffic system planning and optimization. They should also be qualified to work in education, research, and other relevant departments, becoming high-caliber professionals capable of solving complex engineering problems in the transportation field.
Transportation (Low-Altitude Traffic Technology Elite Program): Approximately 5 years after graduation, alumni of this program should possess solid and systematic professional theory, profound engineer literacy, excellent team leadership and strategic decision-making capabilities, and good digital and intelligent literacy. They should be able to leverage artificial intelligence technology to empower problem analysis and innovative practice; be able to engage in key roles in the low-altitude transportation sector, such as low-altitude aircraft testing, operation and maintenance management, low-altitude aircraft technical support, low-altitude traffic safety analysis, and low-altitude traffic system planning, airspace optimization, and operation control. They should also be qualified to engage in teaching and research in education, research, and other relevant departments, becoming high-caliber professionals capable of solving complex engineering problems in the low-altitude transportation field.
IV. Employment Sectors
Graduates of the Transportation (Specialization in Automotive Operation Engineering) program in our department are well-suited to work in large enterprises or research institutes related to automotive production, design, service, and research. They can also pursue careers in road transportation, transport authorities, public security traffic management departments, transport divisions of large enterprises, research institutions, and universities. In these organizations, they can engage in design, production, management, research, and teaching within the fields of Vehicle Operation Engineering, Automotive Service Engineering, Traffic and Transportation Engineering, and Vehicle Engineering.
Supported by the “Low-Altitude Traffic Technology Elite Program”, graduates of this special class can also pursue careers in emerging sectors of the low-altitude economy. They can find employment in low-altitude aircraft R&D and manufacturing enterprises, low-altitude traffic operation and management organizations, intelligent perception and connected technology companies, airspace planning and control agencies, low-altitude safety assurance departments, as well as related research institutes and universities. In these roles, they will engage in the testing and maintenance of low-altitude vehicles, development of intelligent navigation perception systems, application of low-altitude smart connectivity technologies, 3D traffic system planning and operation control, low-altitude traffic safety analysis, as well as teaching and research.
Since the establishment of the majors, over 5,000 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students have graduated from the department. Most alumni work in national transportation administrations, universities, renowned research institutes, transportation-related industries, large and medium-sized state-owned enterprises, foreign-funded companies and well-known conglomerates. With solid theoretical foundations and comprehensive competence, most graduates quickly grow into core technical staff and backbones. Many directors and technical leaders of transportation bureaus across provinces and municipalities are alumni of the department, which enjoys an outstanding reputation in the industry. A large number of outstanding alumni have grown into industrial leaders, distinguished scholars and entrepreneurs.
The global automotive industry is undergoing tremendous transformation driven by the four trends of new automotive development: electrification, intelligence, connectivity and sharing, which has revolutionized the century-old traditional automobile industry and brought profound changes to transportation. At the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the strategic initiative of building a powerful transportation country to accelerate the development of an innovation-driven nation. This major deployment represents a new mission for all transportation practitioners in the new era. Growing demands for transportation safety, efficiency improvement, environmental protection and energy conservation have broadened the career prospects of the department’s undergraduate programs. The Transportation (Specialization in Automotive Operation Engineering) features a long history and profound academic accumulation. Leveraging its status as a National First-Class Undergraduate Major Construction Site and a Jilin Provincial Brand Major Construction Site, the department capitalizes on its solid strength, high starting point and rapid development, aligns with the national strategy of building a powerful transportation country, and strives to cultivate top-tier talents in this field.
V. Features (Scientific Research Capabilities & Research Directions)
The department covers the secondary discipline of Vehicle Operation Engineering and accepts postdoctoral researchers under the primary discipline of Transportation Engineering to conduct research.
The main research directions for master’s and doctoral students are as follows:
1. Intelligent Vehicle Inspection and Rail Transit Vehicle Equipment. Research on theories and testing methods for intelligent vehicle diagnosis and relevant equipment; intelligent monitoring and early warning technologies for vehicle and equipment operating status; power matching and management methods for electric vehicles.
2. Operational Safety and Integrated Testing Technologies for Intelligent Vehicles. Research on the operational safety and reliability of intelligent ground vehicles and low-altitude aircraft, human-machine interaction and state perception, decision-making planning and motion control, test verification optimization and comprehensive evaluation, as well as theories and methods for traffic accident reconstruction.
3. Coupled Perception of Traffic Environment and Vehicle Safety Early Warning. Research on coupled vehicle-road-human perception, mixed connected traffic environments, regional coordinated control, human-machine interaction and intelligent cockpits, connected vehicle platoons, driving behavior mechanisms, and vehicle safety early warning.
4. Vehicle Operation Simulation and Intelligence. Guided by nonlinear dynamics, control theory and artificial intelligence, research on analytical methods for vehicle handling stability, theoretical design of automobile operating conditions, and decision-making and control methods for intelligent vehicles.
The department boasts complete and advanced experimental facilities and operates a provincial-level central automobile inspection station. By the end of 2024, the department had completed more than 160 research projects, approximately one-third of which were national, ministerial or provincial-level programs. In recent years, annual research funding has remained above RMB 5 million. It has won 8 scientific research awards at or above the provincial/ministerial level, including 2 first prizes, 5 second prizes and 1 third prize. More than 200 national invention patents have been authorized. Over ten textbooks and monographs have been published, among which 1 is a national high-quality textbook and 2 are provincial high-quality textbooks. The department has also obtained 2 second prizes and 1 third prize of provincial teaching achievement awards. It maintains a leading position and exerts significant influence in China’s 啊automotive operation industry.
The department maintains frequent academic exchanges with overseas universities. More than 20 faculty members have conducted high-level visits, research and academic exchanges abroad in recent years. Friendly cooperative relations have been established with world-renowned universities and institutions including the University of Kansas (USA), University of Waterloo (Canada), Technical University of Berlin (Germany), TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research), and University of Twente (the Netherlands).
VI. Faculty Roster
Doctoral Supervisors: Li Shiwu, Li Xiansheng, Liu Yumei, Shi Shuming, Liu Hongfei, Zhang Libin, Xu Guan, Sun Wencai, Ren Yuanyuan, Wang Linhong，Lian Jing, Lin Nan, Li Wenjun, Jin Tongtong
Professors: Li Shiwu, Li Xiansheng, Shi Shuming, Liu Yumei, Liu Hongfei, Zhang Libin, Ren You, Xu Guan, Sun Wencai, Ren Yuanyuan, Wang Linhong, Lian Jing
Associate Professors: Chen Rong, Li Wenjun, Tan Lidong, Zheng Xuelian, Lin Nan, Guo Mengzhu, Jin Tongtong, Zhu Jinbao
Lecturers: Lin Huiying, Liu Hanwu
Senior Engineers: Shan Hongmei
