Ni Jing, the inaugural graduate of the "National Excellence Program" at Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), is poised to depart her alma mater armed with both knowledge and passion. A master's student at the School of Mechanical Engineering and Vehicle Engineering, BIT, Ni will soon embark on a new journey as a science teacher at the prestigious High School Affiliated to BIT.

BIT, a trailblazer in education, stands as one of the pioneering institutions behind the "National Excellence Program". This innovative initiative, established as one of the first of its kind in the country, has laid the ground work for a cutting-edge teacher training pathway. Through a unique dual-degree training system, students admitted to the program engage in a concurrent pursuit of an engineering bachelor's degree and a master's degree in science and technology education, setting a new standard for academic excellence and professional development.

When BIT first began selecting graduate students for the "National Excellence Program", Ni was already a third-year graduate student, deeply immersed in the intricate world of mechanical engineering. Upon learning about this program aimed at cultivating talent with a combination of engineering and education, she realized that it offered her a new opportunity to pursue dual master's degrees in engineering and education simultaneously.

Through the educational master's internship at the High School Affiliated to BIT, "I've realized that delving into the complexities of intricate gear transmissions demands a deeper well of wisdom than crafting mechanical structures. In this modern era, the role of teachers transcends traditional classroom boundaries," she said, adding that they are pivotal in nurturing holistic student growth, embodying ideals of mentorship and guidance throughout the students' life journeys.

Ni's growth trajectory is deeply marked by BIT's unique genes and profound foundation as one of the initiators of the "National Excellence Program" and one of the first pilot universities in the country. In this system, STEM mentors are primarily responsible for research and academic guidance, education mentors emphasize the transformation of teaching outcomes, and basic education mentors focus on training teaching abilities and passing on frontline experiences, forming a comprehensive and three-dimensional training support system.

Ni's story affirms the university's original intention of "empowering basic education with top-notch STEM education". As more talents with STEM knowledge enter classrooms, scientific education will gain stronger wings.