The Department of Urban Construction Engineering within the College of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering at Hefei University of Technology was established in June 2018. It was formed through the renaming and merging of the Department of Construction Engineering, one of the first five departments founded in 2012 at Hefei University of Technology's Xuancheng campus. The Urban Underground Space Engineering program began officially enrolling undergraduate students in 2018, having previously enrolled students under the Civil Engineering program (Urban Underground Space Engineering direction).

Since its establishment at Hefei University of Technology's Xuancheng campus, the Department of Urban Construction Engineering has witnessed a surge in student enthusiasm for scientific exploration and practical activities, as guided by the university's innovative educational model. Students have actively participated in various academic competitions, innovation and entrepreneurship projects, and have consistently achieved outstanding results in national competitions such as the National University Students Model Design Competition for Urban Underground Space Engineering, the National Zhou Peiyuan University Students Mechanics Competition, the National University Students Structural Design Competition, the National University Students Hydraulic Innovation Design Competition, the American University Students Mathematical Modeling Competition, the National University Students English Proficiency Competition, and various other innovation and entrepreneurship activities. The department has been recognized with honors for its advanced performance in voluntary service, summer social practice, and other initiatives.

The department currently has 18 full-time faculty members, including 3 professors, 6 associate professors, and 6 lecturers. It is responsible for delivering foundational and specialized courses related to the Urban Construction Engineering program and is also engaged in curriculum development. Courses encompass a wide range of subjects, including Tunnel and Underground Engineering, Blasting Engineering, Structural Mechanics, Materials Mechanics, Theoretical Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Engineering Surveying, Urban Underground Space Planning and Design, Ground Treatment, Basic Principles of Concrete Structures, Hydrogeology, Civil Engineering Economics, and Construction Supervision. The department also supervises practical experiences, including internships, production internships, course projects, and graduation projects for the Urban Underground Space Engineering program. This approach has produced a cohort of exceptional graduates who possess both a solid theoretical foundation and strong engineering practice skills.

The teaching staff of the Department of Urban Construction Engineering adheres to the principles of socialist education with Chinese characteristics and is dedicated to nurturing well-rounded individuals who are morally, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, and vocationally developed. The department actively promotes an integrated approach to education and teaching that emphasizes the cultivation of ethics, skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship. To enhance the quality of talent development, the department has focused on strengthening the faculty, recruiting high-level talent, improving the overall quality of teachers, increasing the ratio of teachers with doctoral degrees and senior professional titles, and encouraging teachers to engage in scientific research and engineering practices to elevate their academic standards. The department is also committed to enhancing teaching quality and effectiveness through the development of quality courses, bilingual teaching, multimedia network teaching materials, and national-level planned teaching materials, as well as the practical application of advanced teaching reform methods.

The teaching and research activities of the faculty have made significant strides, benefiting from the educational and related laboratory platforms at the Xuancheng campus. Over the past three years, faculty members of the Department of Urban Construction Engineering have undertaken over 30 research projects, with research funding exceeding 5 million RMB. Among these, five projects were supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Additionally, they have published more than 20 high-quality research papers. The department has a solid foundation in the core disciplines, sound teaching management, and is building on the accumulated educational experience of Hefei University of Technology. Over the past six years, it has continually explored and implemented new talent development models and educational environments, gradually forming new educational strengths and distinctive characteristics.

Leadership:

- Director: Shisheng Fang

- Branch Secretary: Lei Luo

        - Vice Director: Shaowei Ning