At the 2026 Jiangsu College Student Innovation Competition and the 2026 Jiangsu Vocational College Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, held September 18–23, JSOU teams won one first prize, three second prizes, and five third prizes—the best result in the university’s history in both number and quality of awards. The “Hefeng Pigeon Industry” project from the School of Intelligent Manufacturing secured the first prize, marking JSOU’s first-ever top award in this competition.
Three-Tier Collaboration and Intensive Preparation
The Academic Affairs Office led province-wide selection that attracted 779 projects and 2,546 students. After multiple rounds, 32 projects reached the university final, 16 advanced to the provincial competition, and four reached the provincial final. This formed a “university–college–teaching point” three-tier preparation structure. The Academic Affairs Office arranged multiple rounds of expert mentoring and mock presentations to refine project logic and pitch delivery, with relevant staff attending the final to support participants.
Industry Focus and Competition-Driven Innovation
The “Hefeng Pigeon Industry” project addresses the upgrading of the traditional pigeon farming sector. Using IoT and mechanical technologies, the team developed a smart pigeon loft management system integrating precise monitoring, intelligent analysis, and automated control. The system enables real-time environmental regulation, remote health monitoring of breeding pigeons, and in-depth analysis of breeding data, improving survival and reproduction rates. The School of Intelligent Manufacturing provided resource support, and advisors guided the team throughout preparation. At the closing ceremony, the organizers presented certificates to JSOU student representatives, and the project team was selected for the first specialized project coaching session.
Teaching and Innovation Through Competition
This breakthrough reflects JSOU’s continued efforts to integrate professional teaching with industry practice under the principle of “promoting teaching, learning, and innovation through competition.” In recent years, the university has aligned with industry trends, deepened the integration of professional education and industrial practice, and strengthened institutional support to help students develop skills through real projects and innovation practice.
Next Steps
JSOU will concentrate resources on cultivating and refining the awarded projects, organize expert review and guidance, and prepare for the national finals of the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition. It will also expand the identification and incubation of new projects and establish a regularized project cultivation mechanism to pursue further achievements at the national level and supply more high-quality innovative talent to society.