On December 6, the 2021 Asia Dean’s Forum was organized by Tsinghua University and co-organized by School of Environment, Office of Discipline Planning and Construction, and ICEE. The forum was held online under the theme of “Engineering Education and International Exchanges under COVID-19.” Deans of engineering schools from seven universities in Asia, as well as experts in the field of engineering education were invited to the forum, to discuss innovative development of engineering education under the pandemic, to promote engineering technology and social progress, and to address major global challenges. The forum was presided over by Prof. HE Kebin, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and Dean of Institute for Carbon Neutrality, a professor of the School of Environment at Tsinghua University.

Prof. HE Kebin delivers the welcoming speech

Prof. HE Kebin extended warm welcome to the deans of the school of engineering and guests from home and abroad firstly. He pointed out that the COVID-19 public health crisis has posed severe challenges to mankind, changed the way we live and work, and had a major impact on traditional engineering education and international exchanges. The 2021 Asian Dean’s Forum provides a platform for administrators and scholars to engaged in engineering education to discuss how to adapt to this special era, and jointly promote sustainable development and to build a better planet. Prof. HE Kebin also introduced the history and current situation of the development of engineering in Tsinghua University.

Dr. QIAO Weifeng gives a keynote speech

Dr. QIAO Weifeng from ICEE made a keynote speech. He pointed out that UNESCO released the Engineering Report in March, 2021, this is the first time that to make engineering directly associate with all UN-SDGs, in the face of the global challenges brought by the pandemic and climate change. It is an urgent need to speed up the reform of engineering innovation, to reform engineering education and strengthen the capacity development, to transform the engineering education for a sustainable paradigm. He also introduced the academic and practical basis and possible paths of such transformation. He suggested further strengthening partnership building to jointly tackle global challenges and create a sustainable future.

Prof. Tim Kwang-Ting CHENG, Dean of Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Prof. Aaron Voon-Yew Thean, Dean Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Prof. Byoungho Lee, Dean of Engineering, Seoul National University, Korea, Prof. Takao Someya, Dean of the School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Japan, Prof. Stephen Foster, Dean, Faculty of Engineering at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and Dr. WANG Xiaoxiao, Director of Tsinghua Online Education Center, were invited to deliver invited speeches.

On the afternoon of December 6, the working meeting of the Asia Dean's Forum was held at the same time. The meeting discussed the preparation for the seminar of "Women Rising Stars" and suggestions for future cooperation activities. Prof. ZHAO Haiyan, Deputy Dean of School of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, and Associate Professor LU Xi, School of Environment, Tsinghua University participated in the discussion.

The Asia Dean’s Forum was initiated by The University of Tokyo in 2016, with seven member institutions including the University of Tokyo, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Taiwan University, National University of Singapore, Seoul National University, Tsinghua University and University of New South Wales. It has been successfully held for six times.

(Edited by: WANG Gehui, LI Chao Reviewed by: QIAO Weifeng, WANG Sunyu)