McMaster students, leadership to exchange ideas with global experts in engineering
More than 120 global experts in engineering and technology are connecting virtually at the fourth edition of the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) Industry Forum, hosted by McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering in partnership with the GEDC and Petrus.
“This is an exciting opportunity to get great minds to come together and explore solutions to real-world challenges facing engineering education,” says Ishwar K. Puri, McMaster’s dean of engineering.
“While I wish we could have welcomed this year’s guests in-person at Niagara-on-the-Lake, the GEDC Industry Forum team has done a tremendous job adapting this year’s event to offer an engaging virtual experience.”
From Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, engineering education leaders from around the world will connect virtually with senior executives from leading industrial and technology companies. The attendees will represent 25 countries and five continents. Typically, the event is held in person.
This past weekend, 16 McMaster students took part part in the Global Learning Expedition, where they will connect with a global cohort of 50 students to develop solutions to challenges posed by COVID-19.
The expedition was created in partnership with the MacChangers Program. The top teams will pitch their ideas to engineering deans and industry leaders during the GEDC Industry Forum.
“The biggest challenge facing engineering education is how our students and graduates remain relevant for the future. Our world faces tremendous conflict. It’s very important for our graduates to understand that they are citizens of the world and they have a responsibility to understand these grand challenges and contribute towards solutions,” says Puri.
Susan Tighe, McMaster University’s provost and vice-president, academic, will speak at the event and opening remarks will be presented by John Preston, associate dean, research and external relations in the Faculty of Engineering, alongside GEDC Chair Sirin Tekinay, dean, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah.
Through interactive sessions designed to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and open collaboration, participants will exchange ideas on topics such as innovative teaching in a virtual world, new experiential learning opportunities, commercializing research and how to best inform engineering education using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The theme of this year’s event is “Transformation Engineering: Developing the Next Generation of Engineering Innovators, Experts and Leaders for a Changed World.”
“Each edition of the Industry Forum has enabled valuable exchanges to take place, creating a meaningful dialogue between leaders from the corporate world and academia,” says Kirsten Williamson, Founder and CEO, Petrus Communications.
“I am particularly happy that this coming edition focuses on embedding sustainability and ethics into engineering education and look forward to working with our partners at GEDC and McMaster Engineering to deliver an exceptional experience, virtually.”
