Yuexia Lv, Jinpeng Bi, Hui Zhang, Wei Zhao, Xiaofan Liu
Driven by the dual imperatives of the New Engineering initiative and the digital transformation of higher education, digital intelligence technologies present new opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of curriculum-based ideological and political education in mechanical engineering programs. As a core foundational course for mechanical engineering majors, Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics integrates theoretical rigor, practical application, and a strong engineering orientation. Based on the characteristics of this course, this study systematically analyzes the major challenges currently encountered in integrating ideological and political education into professional curricula. Furthermore, practical implementation pathways empowered by digital-intelligence technologies are explored. The proposed framework aims to provide useful references for promoting the digital and intelligent transformation of curriculum-based ideological and political education in mechanical engineering programs, thereby facilitating the coordinated development of professional knowledge education and value-oriented guidance.