48 LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Vol. 3(2), 2009 The Evolutionary Development of the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies Lueny Morell 1 Claudio Borri 2 Sarah Rajala 3 Seeram Ramakrishna 4 Jose Carlos Quadrado 5 María M. Larrondo Petrie 6 Duncan Fraser 7 Bruno Laporte 8 Adriana Garboan 9 Xavier Fouger 10 Hans J. Hoyer 11 Abstract - Globalization is making both developed and developing countries think about effective and efficient strategies that will advance their economies and social development. Throughout the history of civilization, engineering has played a critical role in economic development. Engineers are key not only in solving local problems but also in knowledge creation and knowledge transfer. Thus, it is imperative that technical know-how be supplemented with professional skills to develop an ‘adaptive leader’ who is capable of addressing the multiple challenges of an ever changing world. The key-question posed by the 21st century global economy to engineering educators and stake-holders is this: “How can education in science and technology help to reduce poverty, boost socio-economic development, and take the right decisions for sustainable and environmental compatible development?” To answer these questions, a global approach is needed: and this can only be accomplished by a “team” which has its roots in all regions of the world, i.e. which is enabled to think globally and then act locally. There’s a need to establish effective engineering education processes of high quality around the world to assure a global supply of well-prepared engineering graduates. This paper describes the reasons for the creation in October 2006 of IFEES – the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies. It will describe the vision, mission, and key strategies of IFEES. It will also describe some of the initiatives currently underway and how the various engineering education stakeholders can leverage and benefit from engaging with IFEES, thus strengthening the organizational capacity of engineering education societies throughout the world. The paper will share plans to help members learn from each other's best practices and even failures and how those organizations that have been in existence for quite some time (ASEE was founded in the late 19th century) can contribute to the institution building of some of the recently founded engineering education societies such as in Africa, Kazakhstan, and other parts of the world. The paper presents not only the view of educators but also of industry and other key stakeholders involved in IFEES around the world. Keywords: engineering, human capital, international exposure, Latin America, research, social capital, teaching 1 Member of the University Relations staff of the Hewlett Packard Company. 2 Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Universitá di Firenze. Former President, Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection (SEFI). Director of the Inter- University Center of Aerodynamics of Wind Engineering and Construction (CRIACIV). 3 Professor, Dean of the Bagley College of Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mississippi State University. 4 Professor and Dean of Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Vice President of Strategic Research. Vice-president of the International Federation of Engineering Educators Societies (IFEES). 5 Coordinating professor of electrical machines in the electrical engineering and automation department of the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), Portugal. President of ISEL. 6 Professor and Associate Dean for Academic and International Affairs for the College of Engineering & Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University. Vice- President of the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies 7 Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Assistant Dean for Academic Development in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at UCT. 8 Manager of the Human Development and the Knowledge for Development Group in the World Bank Institute. 9 Vice-President for External Relations in the International Board of BEST (Board of European Students of Technology). Undergraduate student at the Politechnica University of Bucharest, Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications. 10 Director, Dassault Systemes Global Learning leads the PLM Academy. Vice-president of IFEES and of the Cartagena Network for Engineering. 11 Director for International Programs and Strategy for American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and Deputy Secretary General of IFEES. Note. The manuscript for this paper was submitted for review and possible publication on July 18, 2009, and accepted for publication on November 1, 2009. This paper is part of the Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 48-60, 2009. © LACCEI, ISSN 1935-0295. El Desarrollo Evolutivo de la Federación Internacional de Sociedades de Educación de Ingeniería Resumen – La globalización esta permitiendo que tanto los países desarrollados como en vía de desarrollo piensen en estrategias eficaces y eficientes que permitan el crecimiento de sus economías y el desarrollo social. A lo largo de la historia de la civilización, la ingeniería ha jugado un papel crítico en el desarrollo de la economía. Los ingenieros son primordiales no solo en resolver los problemas locales sino que también en el proceso de creación y trasmisión de conocimiento. Así, es esencial que el conocimiento técnico sea complementado con habilidades profesionales para desarrollar un “líder adaptativo” quien es capaz de