International Journal of Education

In response to the specialized requirements of postgraduate education within the defense sector, this study develops and implements a "project manager-style" training model that integrates confidentiality instruction, comprehensive project management, and interdisciplinary mentorship. Using the National Defense Research Center for Power Plant Technology team as a case study, the model incorporates systematic confidentiality awareness training, engages postgraduate students throughout the entire project lifecycle—from initiation to completion—and provides collaborative guidance from mentors across diverse fields such as naval engineering, materials science, and computer science. This approach has demonstrably enhanced postgraduate students’ confidentiality awareness, engineering competencies, and teamwork skills. Empirical evidence indicates that graduates trained under this model exhibit markedly improved employment competitiveness, with 70% securing positions as technical supervisors within military industrial enterprises and an employer satisfaction rate reaching 96%.

Project manager style; Postgraduate training; National defense field; Cultivation mode