The Second International Forum on Engineering Education, a biennial international academic event organized by Tsinghua University in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and UNESCO opened online on Wednesday.
The theme of this year’s forum is “Environment and Sustainable Development.”
During the three-day event, renowned scholars and leaders in the field of engineering education, engineering technology and technology management from all over the world will discuss a wide range of issues including water environment and water ecology, climate change and blue sky action, environment and health, sustainable technologies and global engagement, sustainable chemical engineering and the future, engineering education for sustainable development to draw constructive insights and practical answers on engineering education in the new era.
Tsinghua President Qiu Yong addressed the forum’s opening ceremony.
He said universities had a responsibility to nurture engineers for future cities and rural areas, enhance knowledge, and keep an eye on new technology but with an emphasis on sustainable development.
President Qiu, who is also a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), said that engineers should possess foundational knowledge of different subjects and a mindset of sustainable development.
He added that in this new era of uncertainty and common challenges, universities have to bear greater responsibility under the pressure to address the urgent need to train high-quality and innovative talents.
He also stressed the importance of ethical education at the university level, so that the next generation of engineers could take more responsibility for the sustainable development of the world in the future.
He pointed out that universities should offer a positive contribution to the common cause of climate change mitigation for mankind. “Tsinghua University has launched the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate with eleven universities, and we focus on exchanges and cooperation on climate change,” he added.
He said universities should push forward with innovation to support the sustainable development of the world. “Tsinghua will continue to push the innovation and share the practice of engineering so that we can have closer cooperation and contribute to the development and innovation of engineering education.”
Marielza Olivera, Director of UNESCO office in Beijing, said that in the fast-changing and highly challenging world characterized by rapid technological innovation and unprecedented threats to the environment and the human society itself, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic, engineers need to continuously update their preparations and be open not only to acquire scientific and technological knowledge, but also personal communication and relational skills.
She further said that UNESCO was committed to working with higher education institutions like Tsinghua University and the CAE to set and disseminate new standards related to both engineers’ professional practice and to engineering education as a whole for its adaption towards social needs.
The President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering LI Xiaohong said the forum was held to continue to give full play to the role of the International Center for Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO (ICEE) and provide an important platform for global scientific and technological innovation to exchange and cooperate.
“We look forward to brainstorming ideas, enhancing consensus, and promoting cooperation so that engineering and scientific and technological innovation can better benefit people of all countries,” he added.
The Rector Magnificus of Wageningen University and Research Arthur Mol gave a presentation entitled “Engineering Education at Transition” during the opening ceremony. He said that universities were no longer the only space where education takes place, suggesting that higher education institutions need to invest in digital space while reforming their engineering educational system to match the changing world.
The President of Tsinghua’s Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development Xie Zhenhua, who is also a special advisor of the Climate Change Affairs at China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, delivered his remarks as one of the invited speakers.
He said that the environment and sustainable development was the direction the world should be taking for the promotion of green recovery in the post-COVID world.
“Only with green recovery can we turn the crisis into an opportunity, and help countries realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Paris Agreement, and create a better future for the generations to come,” he added.
Hou Feng, Chairman of China Water Environment Group, and Huang Xiaojun, Vice President and Managing Director of Veolia China, presented on topics related to the water environment and water ecology, climate change and blue-sky action, environment and health, and sustainable technologies.
On Thursday, the forum featured three panel discussions on the topics: Water Environment and Water Ecology, Climate Change and Blue Sky Action, and Sustainable Technologies and Global Engagement.
Similarly, the last day of the forum will see three panel discussions on the topics: Climate, Environment and Health, Sustainable Chemical Engineering and the Future, and Engineering Education for Sustainable Development.
Writer: Sangeet Sangroula
Editors: John Olbrich, Li Han, Cassie
