BRASIC 2021 Annual Forum on Mutual Recognition of International Engineering Accreditation was successfully held on November 2, 2021, in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. The forum was jointly organized by theOrganizing Committee of BRASIC (Belt and Road Alliance for Sensing and IoT Collaboration) and China Instrument and Control Society (CIS). Participants came from 14 countries and regions, including the UK, Japan, Ireland, Pakistan, Italy, etc. The number of registrants was nearly 500, affected by the epidemic, more than 230 attendedthe forum online and on-site, and up to 140 people online at the same time.
The forum was hosted by Prof. Ouyang Zheng, Director of the Department of Precision Instrumentation, Vice Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, and Deputy Director of the Expert Committee of the China Instrument and Control Society. Representatives from nearly 50 international organizations and institutions from 14 countries and regions were invited as participants to make five keynotespeeches and have a lively discussion on theforum theme.
Ms. Steff Smith, the Executive Director of the Institution of Measurement and Control (InstMC) gave a detailed introductionon the process and system of engineer registration and certification in the UK. The aim of InstMC is to promote high standards of professional competence and provide a bridge between academic research and industrial practice in order to inform and support members in their careers.
Dr. Mitsunori Makino, Chairman of Japan Accreditation Board for Engineering Education (JABEE) and Professor of the Chuo University of Japan, made a report entitled " Trends in Quality Assurance in Higher Educationin Japan and International Alliance in Engineering Educational Accreditation", which introduced in detail the organizational structure and accreditation system of JABEE, and introduced and compared other engineering education accreditation organizations around the world.
Mr. Colin Sellers from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) shared theevaluation criteria and certification process of the Institution for assessing the competence of engineers and fully affirmed the bilateral cooperation between IET and China Association for Science and Technology (CAST).
Professor Enayat Ullah Babar, Vice Chairman of Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, introduced the results of PEC's work in engineer qualification certification and assisting engineers' career development.
Mr. Zhang Mingtian from the Service Center of Training and Talents of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), in his report entitled "Promoting International Recognition of Engineer Qualifications — The working Progress of China Association for Science and Technology", introduced the development history of engineers' professional qualifications in China and the work progress of international mutual recognition, as well as the work deployment of CAST for the future international mutual recognition mechanism of engineers. CAST is willing to help more engineers and technicians to go to the international stage and share Chinese wisdom to contribute to the community with a shared future for mankind, participating in global science and technology governance and serving the construction ofthe “Belt and Road”Initiative.
Kenneth TV Grattan, Member of the Royal Academy of Engineering and recipient of the Order of the British Empire, Mr. Gusulfino Roberto, current President of the Italian Instrument Manufacturers' Association (GISI), Mr. Ferretti Lino Egidio, former President of GISI, Professor Elfed Lewis, University of Limerick, Ireland, Andy Augousti, Professor of the University of London, Dr. Louis Lock, Royal Institution of Surveying Hong Kong, and Prof. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan, attended the conference as representatives of their respective institutions and gave a lively discussion on the forum topic during the Q&A session. The speakers also introduced new ideas and new mechanisms in the engineering education system of each country and gave remarks on creating development space with the content of the future cooperation mode in the enhancement of engineers' ability and international mutual recognition.
Tong Zhang, Vice President and Secretary General of China Instrument Society, Professor Zhoumo Zeng, Dean of School of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering of Tianjin University, Ms. Huimin Shan, Director of International Department of CIS, Quanling Zhang, President of Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing of the Nanjing University of Technology and other audiences attended the forum on site.
Theparticipants said that engineering science and technology integrate scientific discovery and industrial development, lay a solid foundation for human survival and development, which is an important force to change the world. Under the background of economic globalization, international exchanges among engineer groups are increasing, and the environment of engineering practice is undergoing profound changes. The rapidly changing global engineering governance system provides opportunities and challenges for the development of the qualification system for engineers and the engineering education system in each country. The establishment of a worldwide applicable mutual recognition mechanism for engineering professions is crucial to the development of engineering capabilities in all countries in the future.
TheOrganizing Committee of BRASIC will also take this forum as an opportunity to cooperate more deeply and extensively with international organizations and countries along the “Belt and Road”, for carrying out further projects on the training of industrial talents and the continuing education of engineers.
