3rd ASEE International Colloquium on Engineering Education opened in Tsinghua University on September 7. Xu Kuangdi, Vice Chairperson of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Wu Qidi, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Education, P.R.C., Sherra E. Kerns, President of American Society of Engineering Education and Vice-president of Olin College of Engineering, and Jack Wilson, President of University of Massachusetts System, attended the opening ceremony held in the morning and all gave speeches at the ceremony.

Tsinghua President Gu Binglin made a speech titled “Transformation and Development of Engineering Education in China” on the colloquium. He talked about the importance of engineering education, the chances and challenges facing engineering education, and the way to advance engineering education.

“Engineering science and technology have long been the engine of human civilization”, said President Gu. He said that engineering education in China develops well but still has problems. Talking about the way to advance engineering education, Gu said that importance should be attached to the basic knowledge, interdisciplinary subjects, humanities education, and students’ practice in learning.

At the end of the speech, President Gu said that attention should also be paid to system reformation, continuing engineering education, and international cooperation.

A total of more than 300 representatives from home and abroad attended the four-day colloquium, which covered topics such as continuing education and its delivery, engineering education reform, and international recognition of qualifications.

The colloquium was jointly hosted by Chinese Academy of Engineering, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and American Society of Engineering Education. It was the first time for the international colloquium on engineering education to be held in developing countries.

Reported by Li Han