The University places a strong emphasis on faculty development, establishing dedicated Faculty Development Centers at both the university and school levels. These centers provide tailored programs, including specialized training sessions, development projects, faculty workshops, and teaching salons, to support the professional growth of all faculty members. To encourage and inspire innovative teaching practices, the University has introduced the “Star Teaching Excellence” program, which recognizes outstanding educators and funds their efforts to form teaching teams focused on innovative, first-class courses. In alignment with the goal of cultivating highly skilled, application-oriented talent, the University has established a dual-skilled faculty team by certifying in-house “application-oriented teachers,” external “industry professors,” and both internal and external “entrepreneurship mentors.”
Star Teaching Excellence Program
Since 2010, the University has implemented the “Star Teaching Excellence” program, based on the Evaluation and Reward Guidelines for Star Teaching Excellence. This program is open to frontline faculty with at least three years of service and follows a tiered evaluation system, with exceptions made for major award winners. Over the past decade, this recognition has become a hallmark of professional achievement, with more than 200 faculty members honored. As of 2023, 87 active “Star Teachers” hold this distinction, including 23 five-star, 18 four-star, and 46 three-star teachers. Notably, three five-star teachers have been awarded lifetime honors for their contributions.
Master Teacher Team Development
The University has launched the Master Teacher Team Development Plan, which designates four-star and five-star teachers as team leaders to integrate internal and external resources. Currently, 21 university-level master teacher teams have been established, involving nine academic units, including four cross-departmental teams and seven partnerships with other universities or enterprises. These teams consist of 123 members, including 46 star teachers, nine external experts, seven senior industry professionals, and 30 PhD holders. Together, they have developed nearly 50 courses, including five nationally recognized first-class undergraduate courses, with many courses built collaboratively across schools, universities, and industries.
Application-Oriented Faculty Certification
Based on years of practice, the University introduced the Application-Oriented Faculty Certification and Management Guidelines in 2021, setting standards for three faculty types (teaching, research, and practice) and three levels (senior, intermediate, and junior). To date, 218 application-oriented faculty members have been certified, including 18 senior-level, 64 intermediate-level, and 136 junior-level educators.
Entrepreneurship Mentor Certification
In 2021, the University revised its Entrepreneurship Mentor Management Guidelines, establishing five mentor types (teaching, practice, competition, research, and comprehensive) and three certification levels (senior, intermediate, and junior). Currently, 272 entrepreneurship mentors have been certified, including 61 internal mentors (33 junior, 23 intermediate, and 5 senior) and 211 external mentors. Among these, 53 are comprehensive mentors, seven specialize in research, and one focuses on entrepreneurship practice.
Industry Professors
Since 2019, the University has introduced the Industry Professor and Associate Industry Professor Appointment Guidelines and the Specially Appointed Industry Professor Guidelines. These roles are filled by senior professionals, technical experts, or experienced practitioners from industry who contribute to teaching, research, and practical applications. The University has appointed 18 industry professors and 82 associate industry professors, including 34 with doctoral degrees.
Grassroots Teaching Organizations
To foster a strong teaching and research culture, the University has allocated dedicated funding to support grassroots teaching organizations. In 2021, the Guidelines for Strengthening Grassroots Teaching Organizations were revised, requiring all full-time faculty to participate and encouraging part-time and external faculty, including industry professors, to engage in teaching and research activities. These organizations play a vital role in enhancing teaching quality through moral education, faculty development, and classroom innovation. Currently, the University has 127 grassroots teaching organizations, 46 of which have been recognized as outstanding. Notably, the Visual Communication Design Virtual Teaching and Research Office was selected as one of the first provincial-level virtual teaching and research pilot programs in Zhejiang Province. Additionally, the Visual Communication Design and Computer Science departments were designated as provincial-level model grassroots organizations for integrating civic education into courses.
(The above data has been updated as of April 2024)