Comments from U.S. Delegation on ICEE-2000

Compiled by

Vittal S. Rao

Rutledge-Emerson Distinguished Professor of
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Director, Intelligent Systems Center
University of Missouri-Rolla
Rolla, MO 65409-0440
raov@umr.edu
January 19, 2001

The U.S. National Science Foundation provided a travel grant for a U.S. delegation to participate in the International Conference on Engineering Education (ICEE-2000) held in Taiwan and Taipei during August 14-18, 2000. The grant provided partial travel support to members of U.S. delegation. The U.S. delegation of 29 members, picked by a Selection Committee from among about 70 applicants, was requested to provide feedback on the following topics:

(i) General Impressions on ICEE-2000 and ICEE’s Concept of Progress Through Regional Alliances;

(ii) Suggestions for Future Conferences, including Areas of Improvements and Future Conference Venues;

(iii) Summary of Your Interactions with Delegates from Other Countries Throughout the Conference; and

(iv) Recommendation of Topics and Corresponding Methods/Mechanisms of International Cooperation in Engineering Education.

Members of US Delegation

A summary of the comments received from the members of the delegation is compiled and given below:

General Impressions on ICEE-2000 and ICEE’s Concept of Progress Through Regional Alliances

• ICEE-2000 was a very successful conference, which definitely furthered conference aim of Progress through Regional Alliances.
• The conference was extremely well organized and the hospitality was outstanding. The organizers are to be commended for the precision with arrangements.
• It was a very busy week and definitely worth the time invested in traveling to and from Taiwan.
• Cultural programs were very good.
• The keynote addresses were very good, especially the one by Dr. Chang Lin Tien, which set an excellent tone for the conference.
• Too many parallel sessions.
• Workshops were very valuable.
• The concept of iNEER is a particularly promising development and it should foster collaborations, which are initiated at the annual conferences.

Suggestions for Future Conferences, including Areas of Improvements and Future Conference Venues

• It is desirable to have fewer paper sessions and more workshops.
• As the conference matures, it might be worth considering setting up a rotation of venues that would ensure that no one region dominates for long period.
• Consider organizing regional conferences.
• Invite the keynote speakers from different countries including the host country.
• One member felt that the split workshop and conference format is inefficient.
• Arrange mini workshops.
• Allow more time for discussions (Q&A) at the workshop
• Improve the participation from China, India, Russia, and Western Europe.
• Industry participation.
• Invite student participation.
• The session chairs should control the presentations precisely to the time limit to allow discussions at the end of each presentation.
• ICEE should become the forum where engineering education issues can be presented, discussed, analyzed, proposals presented, and creativity and innovation encouraged.
• A higher visibility of host country’s engineering schools.

Summary of Your Interactions with Delegates from Other Countries Throughout the Conference

• Had ample opportunity to interact with people from other countries in the sessions, at meals, and on the bus.
• Learned about US-Brazil Higher Education Consortia Program.
• Personal contacts with a number of delegates

Recommendation of Topics and Corresponding Methods/Mechanisms of International Cooperation in Engineering Education

• Increased coverage of information technology issues like meeting demand in fast-growing programs like computer engineering and science, integration of information technology in traditional engineering programs, and integration of business and engineering.
• Trends in higher education to day, which impact engineering education and global engineering practice.
• Issues related with non-high-tech related fields.
• International cooperation in engineering education
• Opportunities to share technology-based curriculum and courseware.
• Curriculum assessment.
• Global engineering practices.
• Interdisciplinary degree programs in engineering education.
• Interactive remote learning program.
• Best practices in engineering education.
• Provide success stories about the international collaborations.
• Pre-college engineering education.
• Curriculum transformations in emerging countries.
• Two-year degree programs.
• Engineering standards and practices.

Return to FEEDBACK ON ICEE-2000