Design and implementation of the interdisciplinary curriculum for intelligent chemical engineering program at Taiyuan University of Technology

High quality personnel (HQP) with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills of chemical engineering, computer science, and automation are urgently needed for intelligent chemical engineering. This study explores how to make chemical engineering students proficient in applying automation and computer knowledge to solve complex problems in industrial productions. An interdisciplinary curriculum for Intelligent Chemical Engineering (ICE) program was developed by a team consisting of professors in automation, chemical engineering and computer applications at Taiyuan University of Technology’s College of Chemical Engineering. This paper present how the interdisciplinary curriculum was implemented to the volunteer groups on trial for two years and the experimental classes of ICE for three years. Project-based learning (PBL) had been proved to be an effective means to implement the curriculum within limited teaching hours. Surveys for current students and graduates showed that the students’ ability of interdisciplinary thinking and dealing with complex problems, the skills to use professional software for digital plant design and smart plant management had been greatly improved.