This event was held on 1st February 2019 at the invitation of the UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector Capacity Building Group to provide UNESCO member nation delegations with information on the work of WFEO in relation to engineering and the advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Attendees were from English and French speaking member delegations.
UNESCO Director of Capacity Building Dr. Peggy Oti-Boateng chaired the session and made opening remarks on the need for engineering and the important role of UNESCO in capacity building.
WFEO leaders including the President, the President Elect and leaders from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific region made presentations:
- Dr. Marlene Kanga , Australia, President World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) – on the background of WFEO as an organisation and the strategic objective to build capacity for engineers for sustainable development including strategies for engineering education.
- Prof. Jose Vieira , Portugal, President European Engineering Institutions (FEANI), Chair WFEO Strategic Planning Committee spoke about the WFEO Strategic Plan and relationship between engineering and UN SDGs and the range of projects in the WFEO Engineering 2030 Plan.
- Prof. Gong Ke , China, WFEO President Elect, spoke on the WFEO UNESCO Declaration, and commitment of WFEO to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goas and the work of WFEO technical committees and partners.
- Mr. Martin Manuhwa , Zimbabwe, President Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO), on the work of FAEO in collaboration with WFEO and the work of the Work of the WFEO Committee on Anti-Corruption.
- Mr. Pratarp Singh , Past President Fiji Institution of Engineers, spoke about the work of Fiji engineers for sustainable development and the need for Natural disaster risk management for SIDS, the development of building codes for resilient infrastructure in SIDS and WFEO projects on climate change education.
- Ms. Valerie Agberagba , Nigeria, Chair WFEO Committee for Women in Engineering – on the work of the Committee to attract girls in STEM careers – what is needed, what WFEO is doing statistical Data on women in Science & Engineering in Rwanda Nigeria & Malawi, the Africa Women’s Forum at Africa Engineering Week and other projects.
- Mr. Jacques de Méreuil , WFEO Executive Director, spoke on the Proposal for World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development – the benefits of the Day and relevance to Africa – i.e. increasing the profile of engineering, encouraging more young people to consider engineering and encouraging more women and girls into engineering careers.
Following a questions and answers session, the WFEO President read an Action statement for WFEO and its members. Copies of the Paris Declaration on Sustainable Development Goals , the WFEO Engineering 2030 Plan and the Young Engineers Competition Report in English and French were distributed to attendees.
For more information:
WFEO presentations
WFEO Statement on Advancing SDG through Engineering
WFEO Engineering 2030 Plan / Version française abrégée
Young Engineers Advancing the UN SDGs / Version française abrégée
The Paris Declaration / Version française
All the photos in high quality
World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development webpage
MAR
2019