Recently, the 14th National Metallographic Skills Competition for College Students, hosted by the Teaching Steering Committee for Material Programs of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, was held at Chengdu Technological University. The competition featured two tracks: the Leica Cup (1st Track) and the YOLOPEN Cup (2nd Track).

After an intense competition, students from NEFU’s College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering won two National First Prizes in the individual category. NEFU also earned three Second Prizes, three Third Prizes, and a Second Prize in the team category (covering all tracks). This marks the best performance in the history of NEFU’s participation in the event.

The National Metallographic Skills Competition for College Students is one of the most influential university events in the field of materials science in China. The 1st Track (Leica Cup) is the Experimental Skills Track, with 621 universities holding internal competitions, followed by 26 regional semi-finals. A total of 1,544 students from 555 universities advanced to the finals. The 2nd Track (YOLOPEN Cup) is the Comprehensive Analysis Track, with 327 universities holding internal competitions and a unified semi-final organized by the event secretariat. A total of 692 students from 255 universities entered the finals.

NEFU’s participants achieved excellent results due to their solid metallographic specimen preparation skills and strong psychological resilience. Among them, Gao Junbo and Zheng Jinjie won National First Prizes in the individual category. Xie Mingtong, Wang Zhiqiang, and Feng Yuchang earned National Second Prizes, while Hu Zhengkun, Wang Chao, and Tao Zexu received National Third Prizes. These achievements demonstrated the comprehensive strength of NEFU’s students and brought honor to NEFU.

Metallographic skills are a key technique in materials research and exploration. They are also a crucial component in cultivating students’ hands-on abilities and professional technical expertise. The competition provided students with the opportunity to prepare metallographic specimens, engaging in a “failure → improvement” cycle that refined their craftsmanship and pursuit of perfection. The competition rigorously tested students’ ability to integrate and apply professional knowledge. Through stages such as microstructure identification, defect analysis, and pattern interpretation, it trained students to infer macroscopic properties from microscopic structures and solve complex engineering problems.