More than 150 engineering deans from around the globe will be coming together in Niagara Falls to discuss the future of engineering education and how to improve diversity within the profession.

Hosted by McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering, the Global Engineering Deans Council Conference (GEDC), taking place October 10 to 12, will cover topics ranging from preparing students for the fourth industrial revolution to creating more inclusive engineering schools and workplaces to the future. This is the first time the event is being held in Canada.

Other topics include preparing students for a changing economy with a focus on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, energy conservation and biomedical engineering.

This unique event, which will be held at the Fallsview Conference Centre, will facilitate important discussions about engineering education, research and outreach and how to better prepare for the fourth industrial revolution that will continue to transform our world through digital disruption.

For the 5^th year running, the GEDC Airbus Diversity Award will be showcased at the GEDC conference. The award celebrates successful projects, which have encouraged more people of all profiles and backgrounds to study and succeed in engineering. Three finalist projects, selected by an award committee made up of GEDC, Airbus and UNESCO members, will be presented to a jury of industry experts. The winning project will be announced at the Award Ceremony on 11 October 2017.

“McMaster Engineering is extremely pleased to be hosting this distinguished group of engineering academics,” said Ishwar K. Puri, McMaster’s dean of engineering.

“GEDC members, including McMaster Engineering, address grand challenges facing Canada and the world, including climate change, renewable energy, digital transformation and health care. Like the GEDC, McMaster Engineering is committed to leading research and world-class education with a social conscience. I look forward to enlightening discussions on how to educate the next generation of engaged citizen scholars who will transform the world.”

“Our conference brings together a diverse population of academic and corporate engineering leaders and experts from six continents with an eye toward our future generations and the next century,” said Peter Kilpatrick, Chair of the Global Engineering Deans Council and Matthew H. McCloskey Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame.

“Innovating for our regional and national economies and overall well-being of our nations and our world has long been a cornerstone of the GEDC’s mission.”