Beijing's first industry-targeted course in embodied intelligent robotics began classes on Wednesday, the Beijing Education Commission posted on its official account.

The program was jointly launched by Beijing Polytechnic University (BPU) and Chinese e-commerce giant JD Group. It is designed to train students for work in the fast-growing embodied intelligence sector, where robots are expected to interact more directly with the physical world.

The first intake includes 21 students selected from second-year vocational diploma programs at the university, the post said. They are chosen from majors including industrial internet applications, mechanical manufacturing, and automation at the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.

The course's first-semester curriculum has already been released. In addition to completing regular major courses, students are required to attend weekly classes for the program every Wednesday afternoon.

Teaching will follow a dual-mentor system, with guidance from academic and industry instructors. Students will receive foundational skills training at the university's practice base, while also visiting the group's industrial facilities for on-site learning, practical training, and internships. Company mentors will focus on job-ready skills such as robot operation and maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair, and systems integration design.

Over the two-year program, more than 60 percent of their study time will be spent in internships and hands-on training on the industry front line. Students who pass the final assessment will be able to join JD Group directly after graduation.

The project is due to expand in the autumn semester, with a larger intake and a wider recruitment pool that will include undergraduate students, the post said.

BPU is the capital's first municipally run undergraduate-level vocational university and the only higher-education institution located in Beijing E-Town. The school said its mechanical and electrical majors are closely aligned with the robotics and intelligent manufacturing industries, according to the post.