Peking University, Oct, 24, 2011: 2011 Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) conference opened at Peking University (PKU) Yingjie Overseas Exchange Center on Oct. 21st. Over 200 engineering school deans from more than 30 countries and regions gathered to discuss education development.

The 2011 GEDC Conference was hosted by PKU College of Engineering. Dean of PKU College of Engineering Chen Shiyi and Tecnológico de Monterrey President and GEDC Chair David Garza Salazar served as co-presidents. Under the theme of global leadership of engineering education, engineering school deans from all over the world explored the situation and problems in engineering education, facilitated cooperation and responded to the challenges facing world engineering educators in joint efforts. The two-day conference consisted of six sub-topics: organization leadership, sustainable development, course innovation, training for new engineering dean, evaluation of engineering education, engineering education in the context of globalization.

Opening Ceremony of GEDC

Before the opening ceremony, PKU Council Chairman Zhu Shanlu and President Zhou Qifeng greeted guests from all over the world. President Zhou expressed his welcome to all guests. He also said that having contributed its wisdom and strength to world higher education and technology progress, PKU hopes to enhance international academic cooperation with partners around the globe during the conference, and to make new contributions to world sustainable development.

PKU president Zhou Qifeng presenting gift to GEDC

Zhu Shanlu welcoming guests

At the opening ceremony, Zhu Shanlu introduced the historical tradition and recent development of PKU and its engineering education. He noted that in face of rapidly advancing science and technology, engineering technology is playing an increasingly significant part in economic development. Citing aerospace engineering pioneer Theodore von Kármán’s saying “Scientists explore today while engineers build up tomorrow “, Zhu emphasized the importance of engineering education. He also illustrated several strategic steps taken by PKU since 2005, including reestablishing School of Engineering and promoting cutting-edge engineering courses, along with its remarkable accomplishments in fields of new energy, aerospace, new material and biomedical engineering. He concluded by stating that PKU is looking forward to enhance cooperation in various aspects with engineering education communities and industrial circles of different countries to further improve the world engineering education.

Chen Shiyi hosting the conference

David Garza Salazar, as Chair of GEDC, reviewed the establishment and development of GEDC. Afterwards, Nitte Ramananda Shetty, Luiz Scavarda and Yu Shouwen adressed the situation of engineering education in India, Brazil and China respectively. Ray Bowen and China National Petroleum Corporation Vise President Bo Qiliang also made speeches titled on the relationship between their companies and universities.

This conference has also received much attention from Chinese media including People’s Daily, CCTV, Guangming Daily, Xinhua News Agency, Zhongxin Net, China Daily.