The 2011 Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) Conference grandly opened at Ying-jie Overseas Exchange Center at Peking University on October 21. Over 200 engineering deans and university vice presidents from more than 30 countries and regions attended the conference at PKU to discuss development of global engineering education.
Several distinguished guests joined the opening ceremony, including: Professor Shanlu Zhu, chair of the Peking University Council; Professor Qifeng Zhou, president of Peking University; Professor Ray Bowen, chairman of the National Science Board (USA); Professor David Garza-Salazar, chair of GEDC; Professor Don Giddens, president of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE); Professor Shouwen Yu, vice president of the Chinese Society for Engineering Education (CSEE), and representatives from supporting organizations and sponsors.
Professor Shiyi Chen, dean of the Peking University College of Engineering and Graduate School, hosted the opening ceremony.
Prof. Shanlu Zhu, Chair of the Peking University Council delivers speech
Prof. Qifeng Zhou, President of Peking University presents a gift to David Garza-Salazar, Chair of GEDC
Prof. Shiyi Chen, Dean of the College of Engineering
At the beginning of the opening ceremony, Zhu delivered a speech to introduce PKU and the College of Engineering. He said that engineering and technology were playing increasingly important roles in the modern world.
Various representatives from different organizations and countries presented their views on the development of engineering education.
Garza, chair of GEDC, reviewed the GEDC’s history, development and current status. Giddens followed with his views on the influence of engineering education on behalf of ASEE.
Three other speeches touched on the current status of engineering education in India, Brazil and China, given by Professor Nitte Shetty, president of the Indian Society for Technical Education; Professor Luiz Scavard, vice president of Pontifical Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro; and Professor Shouwen Yu, vice president of CSEE, respectively.
The ceremony also featured two plenary speeches: “The Role of the United States National Science Foundation in the Support of Science and Engineering Research and Education” by Bowen, and “Innovation for Petroleum Industry in a Globalized World” by Dr. Qiliang Bo, vice president of PetroChina, one of the conference sponsors.
During the next two days, the representatives will discuss common problems and challenges that engineering education faces in each institution, and seek to generate solutions to tackle these problems. Under the theme “Global Leadership in Engineering Education,” the conference will incorporate six sessions: Institutional Leadership, Sustainability Issues, Curricular Innovation, New Dean Mentoring, Accreditation in Engineering Education, and Engineering Education in a Globalized World.
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About GEDC
Recognizing the global need for a world-wide forum of engineering deans and rectors, GEDC was created in May 2008 in Paris, France. It has about 70 members from 33 countries, all of whom are deans and rectors of engineering colleges and schools in the world.
Accommodating for its diverse membership, the GEDC conference has taken place every year in a different country. It provides an environment and a platform for leaders in engineering education to enhance their partnerships by getting together and harnessing their experience, knowledge and expertise to collectively address issues and challenges confronting global and local engineering educators. Last year’s conference took place in Singapore.
