抗战时期高等工程教育职能探析——以西北联合大学为例

Analysis on Functions of Higher Engineering Education in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression:Taking Northwest Union University as an Example

在抗战时期,高等工程教育因其重视实践性和解决实际工程问题的能力而备受关注。尽管条件艰苦,但高等工程教育依然坚持办学,并实现了稳步发展,充分展现了特殊时期大学的职能。以西北联合大学为范例,该校将人才培养视为首要任务,结合抗战需求和西北地区的实际情况,灵活调整课程与教学方式,旨在培养出适应特殊时期的专门人才。同时,西北联大坚持进行科学研究,成立工科研究机构,举办工程讲座,组织对西北资源的调查,并深入开展工程学术研究。此外,学校还积极参与服务西北社会的发展,设立工程推广部门,鼓励师生在西北工程领域发挥作用,并与地方积极开展工程合作。联大师生自觉肩负起“抗战建国”的重任,不仅优化了西部地区的工程教育布局,还提升了工程学科对国家发展的贡献能力,同时也提高了公众对工程学科的认识。抗战时期的工程教育在规模上远超战前,其强调实用性的教育理念推动了工程教育的本土化,促进了地域间工程教育的均衡发展。

Engineering capability is of strategic significance to the victory or defeat of a war,so the war puts forward the demand for the training of engineering talents.The higher engineering education during the War of Resistance was paid special attention because of its strong practicality and emphasis on solving practical engineering problems.Under difficult conditions,it still insisted on running schools with the scale expanding and the level improving continuously,which interpreted the functions of universities in the special period.Taking Northwest Union University as an example,although in the flames of the War of Resistance,it took the initiative to undertake the special functions of adapting to the needs of the War of Resistance and developing and building Northwest China while played the functions of traditional universities in personnel training,scientific research and social service.To cultivate special talents needed by the War of Resistance,the curriculum and teaching methods were adjusted for talent training,by adding subjects related to national defense.For example,weapons and telecommunications engineering majors were added to mechanical disciplines to teach military telecommunications and the composition and use of power grids.Besides,the university adhered to scientific research,by establishing engineering research organizations,offering engineering lectures,organizing resource surveys in Northwest China,and carrying out engineering academic research.Furthermore,it actively served the social development of Northwest China,by establishing the Engineering Promotion Department,allowing teachers and students to work in the field of Northwest Engineering,and actively cooperating with local governments in engineering.Higher Engineering Education in the War of Resistance took the initiative to undertake the special functions of founding a country during the War of Resistance.Due to the War of Resistance,the rational layout of higher education resources across the country were realized,enabling Northwest China which originally had no higher engineering education to establish an engineering education system with many professional categories and complete school-running levels.After the War of Resistance,some teachers and students stayed in Northwest China to continue running schools and contribute to the construction of Northwest China.The capability of engineering disciplines to serve the development of the country was improved by adding courses tanning and telecommunications to cultivate practical talents needed by the War of Resistance,paying attention to the teaching of practical knowledge on the battlefield and improving practical ability.As a result,people from all walks of life also had a new understanding of engineering disciplines.The War of Resistance made the society form an atmosphere of attaching importance to practical subjects.Parents encouraged young students to apply for engineering subjects,and students were also proud of applying for engineering subjects when communicating.Also,the development of engineering disciplines was promoted by actively implementing measures such as the loan bursary system and the treatment of public-funded students for engineering disciplines.Higher Engineering Education in the War of Resistance the initiative to combine national interests with the fate of teachers and students,shouldered the important task of developing Northwest China and serving the War of Resistance,took national interests as the spiritual motivation for running schools,took the development of Northwest China as its own responsibility,gave full play to the advantages of engineering disciplines,solved practical problems in the field of engineering,and answered the epoch proposition of“education is the basis of national rejuvenation”from a deep level.