 In this Edition
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Message from the President
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Dear members, associates, supporters, friends, partners of WFEO,
Although the whole world is still suffering from the COVID-19 health crisis, WFEO and its members and partners are speeding up the progress of their works on “realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development" to build back better from this pandemic.
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Among many activities, I would like to highlight a few:
Dear colleagues, in this newsletter you will see WFEO has actively taken actions and was involved in many international events for promoting SDGs and made efforts to facilitate its members’ activities to combat COVID-19 and the cooperation between members of the WFEO family.
As the challenge ahead is still daunting, we wish our members and partners to stay safe and healthy and to take more actions in response to COVID-19, conducting transformative recovery to build back better.
GONG Ke
President of WFEO
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WFEO Webinar on Diversity and Inclusion
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The WFEO Webinar on Diversity and Inclusion is organized by the WFEO Committee for Women in Engineering and International Network for Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES).
It will present an overview of the results of the review of the Graduate Attributes and Professional Competencies (GAPC) Framework and explain the key changes that have been made for diversity and inclusion. More information about the Consultation is available in this page.
The webinar will be hold on July 31 at 1pm – 2.30pm Paris CET via Zoom.
The registration link in available in this page.
Moderator: Prof. Gong Ke, President, World Federation of Engineering Organisations
Speakers:
- Ms Peggy Oti-Boateng, UNESCO, The importance of engineering skills and greater diversity for the SDGs
- Ms Gail Mattson, President INWES, The importance of diversity and inclusion in engineering education and practice
- Prof Bulent Ozguler, Chair UNESCO-WFEO-IEA Working Group on review of benchmark, MUDEK, Turkey, The review process to date and the changes made
- Dr Marlene Kanga, Diversity and Inclusion on GAPC (Tables 4 and 5 of the Framework)
- Prof Wai Yie Leong, INWES Board Member and WFEO Committee for Women in Engineering – Changes to the GAPC Framework and implications for Diversity and Inclusion and Industry 4.0
- Prof. Dawn Bonfield, WFEO Committee for Women in Engineering, Diversity and Inclusion aspects in the GAPC Framework
- Ms. Yetunde Holloway, Chair WFEO Committee for Women in Engineering, Q&A / Closing remarks and next steps
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Webinars on the IEA Graduate Attributes and Professional Competencies Framework
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A UNESCO / WFEO / International Engineering Alliance (IEA) Working Group was established in November 2019 following the renewal of the WFEO-IEA MoU and the Declaration on Engineering Education that was made in Melbourne at WEC2019.
The goal was to review the current IEA Graduate Attributes and Professional Competencies (GAPC) Framework to ensure that they reflect contemporary values and employer needs as well as equip engineers/technologist/technicians of the future to incorporate the practices that advance the UN Sustainable Goals.
A report on the work done by the Working Group since November 2019, including references to the research and summary of the responses to the questionnaire sent to IEA signatories is available in this page.
A first Webinar that explained the structure of the proposed benchmark and key areas of interest to WFEO members was held on Saturday July 18, 2020 (recording available here)
Moderator: Prof. Gong Ke, President, World Federation of Engineering Organisations.
Speakers:
- Prof. A. Bülent Özgüler, Chair WFEO-IEA Working Group, MUDEK (Turkey) – Summary of work done to date and key areas of change (see the presentation)
- Dr Marlene Kanga WFEO Past President – Overview of the GAPC Framework and proposed changes (Table 4) (see the presentation)
- Mr Kang Jincheng (Strategic Specialist, ICEE Tsinghua University) – Proposed changes to Knowledge and Attitude Profile (Table 3 ) of the Framework. (see the presentation)
- Dr Charlie Than, (President, Myanmar Engg. Council, Myanmar), Proposed changes to Professional Competencies (Table 5) of the Framework (see the presentation)
- Dr Michael Milligan (CEO, ABET USA) – representing International Federation of Engineering Education Societies (IFEES), Diversity and Inclusion incorporated in the Framework
Additional information including the Proposed changes to the IEA GAPC Framework are available in this page (Word document) and in the page Consultation with WFEO Members and partners on Proposed Updated IEA Benchmark for GAPC which details the whole process of the consultation.
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WFEO Webinar on Proposed Updated IEA Benchmark for Graduate Attributes and Professional Competencies
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WFEO consultation on draft international standard ISO 37000 – Governance of organisations
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The World Federation of Engineering Organisations hosted a successful consultation webinar on the draft International Standard ISO DIS 37000 Guidance for the Governance of Organisations on July 11. The event was attended by delegates from more than 20 countries.
The proposed structure of the draft ISO DIS 37000 Standard and key areas of interest to WFEO members was described.
- Moderator: Papias Kazawadi Dedeki, Chair of the WFEO Anti-Corruption Committee
- Speaker: Dr Marlene Kanga WFEO President 2017-2019, Member of technical committee TC309 Working Group 1 that developed the draft standard presented an overview and key aspects of the draft standard, followed by Questions & Answers.
Members are requested to provide feedback on the draft standard before August 15.
The Consultation information, presentation, recording of the webinar and other information are available in this page.
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WFEO Webinar on Draft International Standard ISO 37000 – Governance of Organisations
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Report on the WFEO Webinar: HLPF 2020 – Side-event
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WFEO, representing the Scientific and Technological Community Major Group (STC MG) at the UN, has successfully hosted a side event of the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) virtually with the theme “How the Lever of Science and Technology Can Be Used in Peri-urban and Urban Environments to Advance Sustainable Development: the Case of Implementing Geospatial Engineering” on July 9 (recording available here). This side event was supported by the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN.
The event included the launch of a white paper “The value of Integrated Geospatial and Building Information Modelling (BIM) solutions to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030) with specific focus on resilient infrastructure” (available in this page). The project was the result of collaboration between the World Federation of Engineering Organisations, the World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) and the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).
Moderator: Prof. Gong Ke, President, World Federation of Engineering Organisations
Speakers:
- Mr Sanjay Kumar, CEO World Geospatial Industry Council, Launch of the Joint Publication by World Geospatial Industry Council, World Federation of Engineering Organisations and UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management: “GEOBIM Solutions for Resilient Infrastructure” (see the presentation)
- Mr Gregory Scott, Secretariat, UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management “Geospatial Engineering: A Lever to Assist Developing Countries to Bridge the Geospatial Digital Divide” (see the presentation)
- Dr Marlene Kanga, Immediate past president, WFEO, and project leader for WFEO on the publication to be released: “Implementation of Geospatial Technologies for Sustainable and Smart Cities” (see the presentation)
- Prof. Guo Huadong, Director-General of the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI), Laboratory of Digital Earth Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS): “Big Earth Data for Urban and Peri-urban Development” (see the presentation)
Discussants:
- Prof. Raida Al-Alawi, Director of Technology Development at BFG International, Chair of ICT committee of the Federation of Arab engineers, board member of the Bahrain Society of Engineers
- Prof. José Vieira, President-Elect of WFEO
For more information, click on the following links:
Full article
Webinar programme
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WFEO Webinar: HLPF 2020 – Side-event
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ISC Webinar: HLPF 2020 – Side-event
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For the 2020 edition of the High-Level Political Forum, the International Science Council (ISC) organized a side event entitled "Designing and implementing integrated, context-sensitive and attainable pathways towards achieving transformation" on July 10.
ISC and WFEO compose the UN Scientific and Technological Community Major Group.
The side event convened prominent scientists and experts to discuss how to operationalise the global systemic transformations needed to achieve the SDGs. Countries are not on track to achieve the SDGs and a number of trends are even moving in the wrong direction.
As countries rush to overcome the COVID-19 health crisis and to contain its profound socio-economic impacts, the pandemic inadvertently creates a space for accelerating the social and cultural transformations that we need to achieve sustainability.
During the webinar, WFEO President Prof Gong Ke presented the document "The SciTech leverages urban development -- an example of integration of geospatial technology with building information model" (see the presentation)
For more information, click on the following links:
Webinar webpage
UN Scientific and Technological Community Major Group webpage
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WFEO YE/FL Webinar - Engineering the Future: Resilience and Sustainability For Young Engineers
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The WFEO Committee on Young Engineers / Future Leaders is pleased to present you a webinar series, “Engineering the Future”, which the first episode “Resilience and Sustainability For Young Engineers” was held on July 22 (recording available here).
This webinar explored the various aspects of engineering and the indispensable role it has in resilient and sustainable societies. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed inequalities and vulnerabilities across social, economic, and environmental spheres. Ensuring a rapid recovery, while laying down the foundation for more resilient systems is a precondition to achieving the 2030 Agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals.
These series of webinars seek to highlight the role of engineering design and systems-based approaches in risks identification, mitigation, and reduction, as well as recovery. It will highlight the key challenges to address and opportunities for better engineering systems across multiple sectors.
Moderator: Firas Bou Diab, Chair, WFEO Committee on Young Engineers / Future Leaders
Speakers for this first episode were:
- Prof. Gong Ke, President, World Federation of Engineering Organizations – Topic: Responsibility of Young Engineers in achieving the SDGs
- Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director-General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission – Topic: Engineering for sustainable and safe roads
For more information, click on the following links:
Webinar webpage
“Engineering for Sustainable Future” by WFEO President Prof. Gong Ke
European Commission – EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Next steps towards “Vision Zero”
WFEO Committee on Young Engineers / Future Leaders website
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WFEO YE/FL Webinar - Engineering the Future: Resilience and Sustainability For Young Engineers
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Webinar on Global Science and Technology Development and Governance under the COVID-19 Epidemic Agenda
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The Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and its associated societies hosted an international webinar on global development and governance in science and technology on May 30, the 4th National Science and Technology Workers’ Day.
This Day celebrates the contributions of science and technology workers and acknowledges the knowledge, talents and innovation made by them. Over the past three years, the event has inspired over 91 million Chinese science and technology workers to be actively involved in advancing development of science, technology and innovation.
Discussions focused on progress in international science and technology cooperation in responding to major risks and challenges especially to COVID19 and the role of science and technology governance in contributing to the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. WFEO Past President Marlene Kanga was one of the panelists.
For more information, click on the following link:
Full article
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Prof Huai Jinpeng, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Secretary of CAST, makes the opening remarks.
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Dr Marlene Kanga, WFEO Past President, speaks on-line at the Webinar
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Webinar on Global Engineering in the Context of COVID-19
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A successful international webinar on “Global Engineering in the Context of COVID-19” was held on June 8 on the occasion of the celebration of the 58th anniversary of the Peruvian Engineers Association (CIP), an important national member of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). The recording is available in this page.
The event acknowledged the extraordinary times and the work of engineering and engineers in using advanced technologies to meet the challenges of COVID-19 and beyond.
Moderator: Richard Stoddart
Speakers:
- Prof. Gong Ke, President, WFEO, on Protect Human life from COVID-19 and Built Back Better by using emerging technologies in engineering (see the presentation)
- Dr Marlene Kanga, Immediate Past President, WFEO, spoke on Global Governance and Partnerships for engineering collaboration in the context of COVID-19 and beyond (see the presentation)
- Dr Vilas Mujumdar, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and former Executive Council member of WFEO, on Developing Community Resilience – Post COVID-19 (see the presentation)
- Carlos Herrera Descalzi, Dean of the Peruvian Engineering Association, presented on Peru in the context of COVID-19: a perspective from CIP
For more information, click on the following link:
Webinar webpage
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Speakers at the online webinar
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Webinar on Global Engineering in the Context of COVID-19
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WFEO President attended the FEIAP FAEO MOU Signing Ceremony
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On July 2, WFEO President Gong Ke together with Executive Vice President Mustafa Shehu attended the online Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony between the Federation of Engineering Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP) and the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO).
The MoU was agreed upon between the two leaders of engineering profession in Asia-Pacific and Africa, and also two important international members of WFEO.
Within the framework of this MoU, the Institutions wish to work closer on capacity building and continuing professional development programmes for engineers, promoting leadership activities for engineers, fostering cooperation between organizations within all the fields of engineering in Africa and Asian—Pacific Region, conducting joint scientific and engineering meetings, and promoting mutual understanding through joint engineering projects.
President Gong Ke extended a solidarity message (available in this page) on behalf of WFEO wishing a great success of the cooperation between FEIAP and FAEO, and wishing this cooperation to set a good example, at this globally challenging time, among WFEO member organizations to carry out the common duty to combat the pandemic and to build back better by pursuing a true transformative recovery with accelerated actions of implementation of the 17 sustainable development goals for 2030 in engineering practice.
For more information, click on the following link:
Full article
Solidarity Message by WFEO President GONG Ke
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Webinar on Responsibility and Accountability of Stakeholders in the Construction Industry
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A successful international Webinar on Responsibility and Accountability of Stakeholders in the Construction Industry was held on July 4 in Rangoon, Myanmar, with speakers from Malaysia and Australia.
The event was hosted by the Myanmar Engineering Council (MEngC), an important national member of WFEO.
The event focused on the need for all parties in the supply chain of the construction industry to work together for sustainable development.
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Charlie Than, President of Myanmar Engineering Council
Guest of Honour: H.E. U Han Zaw, Minister of Construction (Myanmar), who gave the opening speech.
Speakers:
- Dr Marlene Kanga, Immediate Past President, WFEO, made opening remarks and a presentation of the latest changes in the construction industry in Australia, including legislation passed in June 2020 and need to register engineers
- Ir. Dr. Tan Yean Chin, Secretary General of Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and Pacific (FEIAP) – Responsibility and Accountability of Stakeholders in Construction Industry in Malaysia
- Engr. Aung Myint, President of Federation of Myanmar Engineering Society (Fed. MES), Myanmar Construction Industry & Institutions
- Engr. Dr. Aung Kyaw Myat, Chairman of High-Rise and Public Building Projects Committee (HPBC), Present Inspection System for High-rise and Public Building Projects
- Engr. Myo Myint, Councillor of MEngC, Challenges ahead for Myanmar Construction Industry
For more information, click on the following links:
Webinar webpage
“Responsibility and Accountability of Stakeholders in Construction Industry” by Dr. Marlene Kanga
“Myanmar Construction Industry and Institutions” by Eng U Aung Myint
“Present Inspection System For High-Rise And Public Building Projects” by Prof. Dr. Aung Kyaw Myat
“Challenges Ahead for Myanmar Construction Industry” by Mr. Myo Myint
Position Paper on Responsibility and Accountability of Stakeholders in Construction Industry
“Building Confidence” by Peter Shergold and Bronwyn Weir – February 2018
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Speakers at the online webinar
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Prof Dr Charlie Than and councillors of Myanmar Engineering Council attending the webinar
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WFEO President attented the 4th World Intelligence Congress – WIC2020
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The 4th World Intelligence Congress (WIC2020), supported by WFEO, was successfully held online in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic around the globe, in Tianjin, China, from June 23 to June 24, 2020 under the theme of “Intelligence New Era: Innovation, Energization and Ecology”.
Prof. Gong Ke, President of WFEO, presided the opening and closing ceremonies and moderated the WIC Summit. He remarked after the congress that the WIC2020 is an innovative form of large conference multiplying the influence of WIC through online broadcasting and cloud exhibition.
On the opening ceremony, Mr. WANG Gang, Chairman of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) made a keynote speech. Mr. LI Hongzhong, Secretary of CPC Tianjin Municipal Party Committee, Mr. LI Xiaohong, President of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Mr. Park Won Soon, Mayor of Seoul, addressed on the opening ceremony.
For more information, click on the following link:
Full article
WIC2020 website
WIC2020 brochure
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Prof. GONG Ke, President of WFEO, on the opening ceremony
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Edmund Phelps, laureate of Nobel Economics Award, with keynote speech on “Artificial Intelligence: Welfare Economy and Ethics”
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Max Tegmark, tenured professor at the MIT, talking about “The role of artificial intelligence in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”
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WFEO Participation in the Creativity 2030 Forum
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The International Center for Creativity and Sustainable Development (ICCSD) organized an online event “Creativity 2030 Forum” on May 8 to conduct discussions in response to the unprecedented common challenge posted by COVID-19 from perspectives of public health policy, urban planning, application of science and technology, community building, environmental protection and global governance.
Prof. Dr. Hans d’Orville, Chairman of Advisory Committee of ICCSD, former Assistant Director-General for Strategic Planning of UNESCO, Prof. Mehri Madarshahi, President, Global Cultural Networks, Dr. Li Xinyu, Vice President of China International Council for the Promotion of Multinational Corporations, Mr. Michael Mitchell, CEO of MCM International Group among other 20 participants attended the forum.
During this event, experts and scholars shared topics such as international cooperation and economic outlook after the pandemic, ideal urban systems, COVID-19 and the world beyond, community governance, smart cities and circular economy, cultural industry, city branding, and industrial-urban integration etc.
WFEO President Prof. Gong Ke attended the forum under the theme “Urban Governance after Pandemic”, echoing the SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 17 Partners for Goals, for a healthier and safer living environment in the future.
For more information, click on the following link:
ICCSD website
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WFEO position to the build-back-better call for arms
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There is an increasing pressure, need and opportunity to shape an economic recovery from COVID-19 which will be based on climate-related actions.
According to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the recovery must respect the rights of future generations, enhancing climate action aiming at carbon neutrality by 2050 and protecting biodiversity. “We will need to ‘build-back-better’ and maintain the momentum of international cooperation, with human rights at the centre,” he said.
As many stakeholders are now reflecting upon a “build-back-better” strategy after the COVID-19 crisis, and in the context of the World Environment Day celebrated on June 5, WFEO issued a statement on economic recovery and climate change entitled “WFEO position to the build-back-better call for arms”, co-signed by WFEO President Gong Ke and the Chair of the WFEO Committee of Engineering and the Environment, Davide Stronati, that you can find in this page.
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WFEO Statement for International Women in Engineering Day
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The International Women in Engineering Day took place on June 23 and was an opportunity to focus on women – not only women in engineering and the work they do, but also to reflect the need for more gender diversity and inclusion in the engineering sector, and consider the role that engineering and technology plays in addressing some of the disproportionate disadvantages faced by women around the world.
In regard of this situation, and on this International Women in Engineering Day, WFEO and its Committee on Women in Engineering released the WFEO Statement for 2020 International Women in Engineering Day, that you can find in this page.
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Copyright © 2020 World Federation of Engineering Organisations.
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