Keywords
Mechanical engineering
Curriculum alignment
Modular curriculum system
ECTS
TU9
Submitted : 2025-12-11
Accepted : 2025-12-26
Published : 2026-01-10
Abstract
Against the backdrop of globalization, the mutual recognition of engineering qualifications and the cross-border mobility of talent have emerged as pivotal issues in higher education reform. As global leaders in manufacturing, China and Germany share a profound strategic synergy in engineering talent cultivation. However, graduates from Chinese undergraduate mechanical engineering programs frequently encounter significant hurdles regarding “curricular alignment” when applying for Master’s degrees at Germany’s elite research universities (specifically the TU9 Alliance). These challenges often result in high rejection rates or severe academic maladjustment post-admission. Adopting a comparative higher education perspective, this study critically analyses the Master’s admission mechanisms and undergraduate core curriculum systems of TU9 institutions, including RWTH Aachen, TUM, KIT, and the University of Stuttgart. Through a micro-level comparative analysis of syllabi, credit structures (ECTS conversion), and assessment paradigms in key modules—such as mathematics, engineering mechanics, and thermal-fluid sciences—this paper reveals structural discrepancies in “theoretical depth,” “scientific orientation,” and “process-oriented assessment” within Chinese engineering education. The findings indicate that the difficulty in achieving substantive equivalence stems fundamentally from the crowding out of professional hours by general education courses, the fragmentation of knowledge in core foundational modules, and a misalignment between Chinese credit calculations and European standards. Consequently, this paper proposes a reform scheme for mechanical engineering curricula aimed at international alignment. This includes modular curriculum reconstruction, learning-outcome-based syllabus design, and the establishment of a hybrid assessment system, providing theoretical support and practical pathways for Sino-German cooperative education and the internationalization of engineering education.
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