The Department of General Education is primarily responsible for teaching the college’s core general education courses. Key subjects include Information Technology, Advanced Mathematics, Mathematical Economics, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics, Mathematical Modeling (elective), as well as Physical Education and Health. The department also organizes sports activities for faculty and students and manages the college’s sports facilities and venues.

The department boasts a strong and experienced faculty team, with more than 20 full-time and part-time teachers. Among them are 5 faculty members holding senior professional titles (professors and associate professors) and over 10 with intermediate titles. More than 10 faculty members hold doctoral or master’s degrees, and over 10 possess dual qualifications in both academics and industry. The team includes recipients of prestigious honors such as the Baosteel Excellent Teacher Award, Shanghai Municipal Teaching Masters in Vocational Education, and Outstanding Mathematical Modeling Instructors in Shanghai. Over ten faculty members have been recognized with merit awards from the Jiading District Education Bureau, and several have received the Shenjia Teaching Excellence Award. The department has also earned multiple awards in the “Starlight Program” teaching competitions at both the college and municipal levels. It has led one Shanghai Municipal Education Commission “Excellent Course” project and received First and Second Prizes for Teaching Achievement at provincial and municipal levels.

The department is guided by the college’s educational philosophy of “virtue-centered, application-oriented, and skills-focused” and is committed to expanding its teaching and research efforts. Faculty members have authored and published more than ten textbooks, including one listed in the Ministry of Education’s 11th Five-Year Plan and another recognized as a 21st Century Higher Continuing Education Excellent Textbook. They have also contributed to three co-authored textbooks. Over 100 academic papers have been published, including more than 50 indexed by SCI. The department has completed and is currently undertaking over ten city- and college-level research and curriculum development projects.

In the National Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling, the department has consistently achieved excellent results, winning several national second prizes and numerous first, second, and third prizes in the Shanghai regional competition. In addition, students guided by the department have achieved strong results in municipal-level university sports competitions.

In both 2021 and 2024, the institute was selected as a key construction unit for high-level vocational colleges and high-level professional groups in Shanghai. In the 2024 Shanghai university classification ranking, it was ranked 5th among application- and skills-oriented institutions, with significantly enhanced public recognition.

SPI upholds its educational philosophy of “technology-driven, engineering-rooted development” and pursues a strategic approach of “distinctive characteristics, talent empowerment, open education, and innovation-driven growth.” Its programs are closely aligned with Shanghai’s economic and social development needs, focusing on strategic emerging industries, advanced manufacturing, public well-being, and modern services. The academic structure features engineering disciplines as the core, with business and arts as complementary wings. The institute currently offers 25 majors, including 4 high-level professional groups and 5 key majors in Shanghai, as well as 4 provincial/ministerial-level majors integrating industry and education.

SPI has developed 1 national-level high-quality online course, 24 Shanghai-level excellent (online open) courses, 10 Shanghai Teaching Achievement Awards, and multiple educational research awards. The institute is home to a Ministry of Education “Master Studio for the New Era,” a Shanghai “Famous Teacher Studio,” two “Skill Master Studios,” and several acclaimed teachers and innovative teaching teams.

With the motto “Virtue, Knowledge, Practicality, and Action,” SPI has, over more than six decades, cultivated highly skilled professionals with global vision, humanistic values, and strong practical abilities to meet the challenges of the future. The institute currently enrolls over 7,300 full-time students, and its graduates have consistently enjoyed strong employer recognition, with employment rates exceeding 98% for consecutive years.

In recent years, SPI has focused on building a distinctively applied and skilled higher education institution, establishing deep collaborations with leading global enterprises and actively promoting “industry-education integration and school-enterprise cooperation.” The institute participates in national projects such as the Ministry of Education–Schneider Electric Green and Low-Carbon Industry-Education Integration Program, the Sino-German Advanced Vocational Education Program, and the Bosch Talent Training Pilot Project. Major initiatives include the Tencent Cloud AI Industry Academy, Baidu Apollo Intelligent Connected Vehicle Academy, Modern Service Industry Academy, the German Prazimiller CNC Technology Integration Center, the NIO NEV Industry-Education Center, CITIC Digital Manufacturing Center, and the Shanghai International Auto City Industry-Education Consortium.

Aligned with Shanghai’s strategic development priorities—including the “Five Centers” and the “Four Brands”—SPI has developed the “Five Duals” modern apprenticeship model, striving to create a “Shanghai Model” for China’s modern apprenticeship system. The institute focuses on key emerging and pioneering industries such as artificial intelligence, intelligent manufacturing, IoT, new energy vehicles, and 6G mobile communication technology to achieve strong alignment with regional industrial priorities and maintain a leading position nationwide.

Leveraging its status as a Ministry of Education-designated internationally focused institution, SPI has launched initiatives like the Belt and Road Technical and Skills Training Center, the Maldives “Chinese + Vocational Skills” Overseas Training Center, and the Kuala Lumpur Overseas College, establishing a strong global presence in vocational education. In 2022, SPI received the “China Industry-Education Integration Promotion Award” and is now entering a fast track of high-quality development.