A Review on Higher Education of Fire Safety in China

Along with the rapid urbanization and economic growth in China over the last four decades, the higher education in Fire Safety Science and Engineering has been developed and changed significantly. This work systemically reviews the origin and evolution of fire safety higher education history in China, from Fire Protection Technology (before the 1980s) to Fire Safety Science and Engineering (from about 1985 to the 2010s) and to Human-Oriented Public Safety and Smart Firefighting (from the 2010s to today). The scopes of fire safety discipline are discussed by introducing the requirements of firefighters, registered professional fire protection engineers and safety engineers in China. The courses and curriculum in fire safety higher education in representative universities are introduced and compared in detail. By comparing their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, we explain the context of fire safety education in different universities. From a historical viewpoint, we introduce the unique features and the diversity developed in different institutes, based on the evolution of programme documents and first-hand teaching materials. This review aims to introduce the higher education systems of fire safety in China to the world and encourage more international collaboration with the Chinese fire safety science and engineering communities in the future.

Automated summary

With the rapid urbanization and economic growth in China, the higher education in Fire Safety Science and Engineering has undergone significant development and changes. This systematic review examines the history and evolution of fire safety higher education in China, from its early years in Fire Protection Technology to the present-day focus on Human-Oriented Public Safety and Smart Firefighting. The review explores the curriculum and programs offered in representative universities, as well as the unique features and diversity found in different institutes.