From April 22 to 25, 2025, the IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (IEEE EDUCON 2025) was held at Queen Mary University of London. The theme of the conference was "Sustaining Educational Excellence in Engineering: Generative AI in Enhancing Critical Thinking and Active Learning in Engineering Education." Dr. XU Lihui, Assistant to Secretary General of the UNESCO International Centre for Engineering Education (ICEE), was invited to attend the conference and delivered a research presentation titled “Constructing a Competency Model for Engineering Educators in the New Era: Integrating Foundational Theories and AI-Driven Pedagogical Innovations”. 

Currently, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into engineering practice is having a significant impact on educators' teaching approaches. Building upon an in-depth analysis of several widely recognized competency frameworks and the application of AI in the engineering domain, this research report seeks to propose a novel, comprehensive competency model for engineering educators through empirical study. One of the ongoing challenges in engineering education is bridging the gap between classroom teaching and industry expectations. This competency model emphasizes not only academic knowledge, but also professional development, ethical responsibility, and lifelong learning, enabling engineering educators to effectively address this gap. Future research will focus on refining and validating the model across diverse educational settings, thereby enhancing its applicability on global engineering education.

XU Lihui (left) with the Chair (left) in a group photo

During the conference, Xu Lihui also had a friendly exchange with Michael Milligan, Chief Executive Officer of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). As the professional accreditation body for engineering education in the United States, ABET is one of the six founding organizations of the Washington Accord under the International Engineering Alliance (IEA). To date, more than 4,000 programs from over 900 colleges and universities in more than 40 countries around the world have participated in ABET accreditation. Xu Lihui expressed the intention to maintain close cooperation with ABET in the field of international engineering education and to work together to make a positive contribution to cultivating engineers with global competitiveness.

The Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON) is one of the flagship events of the IEEE Education Society. IEEE EDUCON 2025 marks the 16th edition in the annual conference series of IEEE Region 8 (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). Since its inception in 2010, EDUCON has provided a platform each year for scientists, engineers, educators, and students to present research findings, publish papers, exchange ideas, and build future networks for industry-academia-research collaboration. By connecting local and international stakeholders in engineering education, the EDUCON conference actively promotes global dialogue and drives transformative change in engineering education worldwide.

IEEE EDUCON 2025 Group Photo