The 2018 International Engineering Education Forum hosted by Beihang University was held at the Ruxin International Conference Center during July 6th to 8th. More than 100 participants, including specialists and scholars from domestic and foreign renowned universities and enterprises such as Purdue University, George Mason University, University of New Haven, University of Puerto Rico, Amgen Inc., Peking University, University of Science and Technology of China, and Beihang University, attended the forum.
With the theme of “curriculum design for talents of the new century”, the forum aims to further understand and reflect on the prominent problems in practical training for undergraduates with engineering background in China, and to jointly explore the innovative talent training mode under the background of new engineering construction, by gathering internationally recognized experts from academia and industries to conduct face-to-face and multi-angle discussions and communications. Focusing on the forefront of international engineering education, the forum closely integrates engineering education with interdisciplinary studies.
The forum was conducted in the formats of academic reports, round-table conferences and panel discussions, and divided into three topics: the opening ceremony and “the transformation of universities”, “talent requirement for society and enterprises in the 21st century”, and “capacity building for the transformation”. Vice President Huang Haijun attended the opening ceremony. Prof. Wen Dongsheng, Dean of the School of General Engineering, presided over the opening ceremony.
At opening ceremony, Vice President Huang Haijun reported on Beihang’s thinking and reform on the training of engineering talents. Combined with the specific practical experience of Beihang, he deeply expounded why Beihang devoted to developing new engineering education and how to carry out the reform of new engineering education. Following him, Prof. Wen Dongsheng made a report on the theoretical and practical significance of international education forum under the background of new engineering, and systematically elaborated the innovation and transformation in curriculum setting, teaching model, talent cultivation and development objectives of the School of General Engineering. Besides, Prof. Hans Hoyer, Secretary-General of IFEES and Executive Secretary of GEDC, was also invited to give a repot on The importance of government-university-industry partnerships to improve the engineering education.
Centering on the three topics, foreign and domestic scholars launched their wonderful reports respectively to share and discuss the roles of outcomes-based engineering education in the 21st century.
During the forum, the work exhibition by freshmen of the School of General Engineering, around five themes—portable slope, hydrodynamic/aerodynamic elevator, intelligent car door, windmill-power transmission system and portable transportation, was widely recognized and highly evaluated by participating experts.
The 2018 International Engineering Education Forum, gathering 15 international experts of engineering education from eight countries, brought an ideological and spiritual feast for Beihang teachers and students, which will have a far-reaching bearing on the full implementation of education reform and teaching cooperation on engineering education in China.
Written by Zhao Qiudi
Photographed by Song Chao
Edited by Song Chao and Lyu Xingyun
Translated by Lyu Xingyun
