Asee peer logo

Invited Paper - U.S. WFEO Engineering Activities

Download Paper |

Conference

2013 ASEE International Forum

Location

Atlanta, Georgia

Publication Date

June 22, 2013

Start Date

June 22, 2013

End Date

June 22, 2013

Conference Session

Track 2 - Session I - Curriculum Development

Tagged Topic

Invited - Curriculum Development

Page Count

5

Page Numbers

21.50.1 - 21.50.5

DOI

10.18260/1-2--17255

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/17255

Download Count

414

Request a correction

Paper Authors

biography

J. P. Mohsen University of Louisville

visit author page

Dr. Mohsen is Past President of the American Society for Engineering Education. He has served on the ASEE Board of Directors previously as Vice President for Member Affairs and Vice President for Professional Interest Council.

J. P. Mohsen is professor and chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Louisville where he has taught since 1981. He holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Cincinnati. His area of research is non-destructive testing and evaluation of materials with a focus on concrete structures. He teaches courses and conducts research in the areas of design and construction of pavements. He is currently involved in conducting research in condition survey of bridge structures using remote sensing technology.

He has also been actively involved the American Society of Civil Engineers, serving on the Educational Activities and Continuing Education committees as well as the Technical Council for Computing and Information Technology. He is active in the Transportation Research Board serving on Properties of Concrete and Design of Pavements committees.

Dr. Mohsen was named Engineer of the Year in Education by the Kentucky Section of ASCE in1999 and 2007. He received the University of Louisville Distinguished Service to the Profession Award in 1999 and 2009. He received the Distinguished Teaching Professor Award in 2003.

visit author page

biography

Michael Sanio American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

visit author page

Michael (Mike) Sanio is the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Director, Sustainability and International Alliances he is staff contact for the Committee on Sustainability and the liaison to World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), Pan American Association of Engineers (UPADI), American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES), United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and others. With over 20 years experience in engineering, Mike has a diverse background at local, national and international levels in the areas of environment and sustainable development. He has worked for the World Bank/Global Environment Facility where he was responsible for the development and leadership of the private sector strategy, the organization of international CEO forums and the initiation of innovative projects with the private sector, NGOs, development banks and governments. In addition to other positions, he has served as Executive Director to the World Engineering Partnership for Sustainable Development, Deputy to the President of WFEO-ComTech and as a consultant to the United National Environment Program, the United Nations Development Program. He was also the lead author for the World Summit on Sustainable Development Science and Technology Major Group discussion paper leading to the 2002 meeting in Johannesburg. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas in Austin and received - Profesor Honorario al doctor from Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima 2009. He is a member of the Engineers Forum for Sustainable Development, the Engineers International Roundtable, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and ASCE where he has been an active member of the Task Committee for Sustainable Development.

visit author page

Download Paper |

Abstract

U.S. WFEO ActivitiesIntroductionThe World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) was created in 1968 with thesupport of the United Nations Environmental, Scientific, and Cultural Organization(UNESCO).1 Its objectives, stated in its Constitution, are to work with Members: toencourage the application of engineering and technological advancement to economic andsocial progress throughout the world; to advance engineering as an equal opportunityprofession in the interest of all people; and to foster peace throughout the world.WFEO represents multi-discipline engineering organizations in more than 70 countrieswith a combined membership of over 15 million engineers. Voting members includeNational Members, International Members, and Affiliated Members. A National Member isthe national professional engineering organization, or the union/association oforganizations within a country, that is considered most representative of technicallycompetent engineers according to the national standards within that country. AnInternational Member is a union/association of national professional engineering bodiesorganized on a multi-lateral basis, either according to a regional interest or otherinternational basis and has proven itself capable of undertaking ongoing activities. AnAffiliated Member is a professional engineering organization or organizations existing in aspecified geographical area, considered the most representative of technically competentengineers according to the standards of that special geographical area.In addition, there are Corresponding, Associate, and Technical categories of membershipthat have non-voting status. A Corresponding Member is a National professionalengineering organization not able to participate fully as a national member, but wishes toparticipate by correspondence in the activities of the Federation. An Associate Member isan engineering organization, corporate body or individual, which registers as such for thepurpose of supporting the Federation, and receiving regular information on its activities. ATechnical Member is an international non-governmental professional organization devotedto activities in a particular area of engineering.The governing body of the Federation is the General Assembly which meets every twoyears, elects the Officers and National Members, approves the annual dues structure, andestablishes Standing Technical Committees (STCs) and other committees. The GeneralAssembly consists of the representatives of Members in good standing, each having onevote; one-third of all voting Members constitute a quorum.Between meetings of the General Assembly the activities of the Federation are directed bythe Executive Council which meets annually, approves the budget, and may establish othergroups as deemed necessary. The Executive Council consists of the following votingMembers: the Officers - President, President-elect, Immediate Past President, twoExecutive Vice Presidents, and Treasurer; eight elected National Members; all VicePresidents (Chairs of STCs); and six International Members. Non-voting Members are theDeputy Treasurer, the Executive Director, and Chairs of other Committees. The Presidenthas a two-year term, non-renewable, and the Executive Vice Presidents and NationalMembers, have four-year terms renewable for a second term. Treasurer and InternationalMembers have no term limits.The routine business of the Federation is conducted by the Executive Board, supported bythe Executive Director and staff. The Executive Board consists of the President, President-elect, Immediate Past President, two Executive Vice Presidents and Treasurer; and non-voting members: the Deputy Treasurer and the Executive Director who are appointed bythe Executive Board Serve as non-voting members of the Executive Board. An Internalauditor is also appointed by the Executive Board.The WFEO secretariat is located at UNESCO in Paris and the Executive Director isMrs.Tahani Youssef. The current President is Adel Kharafi from Kuwait and the PresidentElect is Marwan Abdelhamid from Palestine. Past presidents include William (Bud) Carrollrepresenting the U.S. from 1995-1999.United States RepresentationThe US National Member is the American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES).2Consistent with the general objectives of AAES, its International Activities Committee(IntAC) oversees the policies of US activities in WFEO.3 Within IntAC and with it ownspecific society membership, the WFEO Task Group coordinates the policies and activitiesof US participants in the WFEO governance positions, Standing Technical Committees, andworking groups, and other activities and collects contributions from its society members topay the annual dues for membership in WFEO (currently 20,000 Euros). Member societiesof the IntAC WFEO Task Group (2012) include: American Institute of Mining Engineers – AIME American Institute of Chemical Engineers - AIChE American Society of Civil Engineers – ASCE American Society for Engineering Education – ASEE American Society of Mechanical Engineers – ASME American Nuclear Society – ANS Institute for Electrical, Electronic Engineers, USA – IEEE USA National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveyors – NCEES National Society of Professional Engineers – NSPE Society of Women Engineers – SWEMeetings and ConferencesThe WFEO General Assembly biannual meetings are typically scheduled in conjunctionwith significant international meetings organized by WFEO National Members. There is anExecutive Council meeting just before each General Assembly and in each of the 2intervening years. These meetings are usually in the fall. The Executive Board meets atleast once a year, usually in the spring.Every four years, WFEO sponsors a World Engineering Congress on themes of internationalsignificance. Recent meetings have been held in Hanover, Germany (2000); Shanghai(2004); Brasilia (2008); and Geneva (2011); WEC 2015 will be in Kyoto, hosted by Japan.The Standing Technical Committees also sponsor conferences in their specialty areas, someevery year and some in alternate years. Examples include the following conferences:Engineering Response to Climate Change in Africa, Nigeria 2010; Education (Sarawak 2009);Disaster Mitigation (Istanbul 2009); Women in Engineering (Tunis 2007); Environment(India 2007). A World Congress on Engineering Education (WCEE) organized by the WFEOStanding Committee will take place in Beirut, Lebanon October 24-25, 2013.4Standing WFEO CommitteesWFEO currently operates with the following ten standing committees: Committee Host Country Chair Anti-Corruption (ACTC) Zimbabwe Kamel Ayadi Capacity Building (CECB) South Africa Tom McKune Communications (CIC) China Ke Gong Technology (EIT) India R. P. Gupta Education (EIE) Lebanon Menhem Alameddine Energy USA Sam Grossman Environment (CEE) Canada Darrel Danyluk Risk Management (DRM) Japan Yumio Ishii Women (WIE) Kuwait Bashayer Al Awwad Young Engineers (YE/FL) Kuwait Zainab LariIn addition, there are several operating committees appointed by the President. Theseinclude committees dealing with Budgets, Awards, Membership, By-Laws, etc. The awardsdeveloped by WFEO and associate Consolidated Contractors Company CCC are mostprestigious with stipends of $10,000. Dr. Bernard Amedei, a professor at the University ofColorado and the founder of Engineers Without Boarders received this award in 2007 forhis work with Engineers Without Borders.5The opportunities for engineers through WFEO to be a contributing force in the world forpeace, infrastructure development, environmental issues and the well being of humanbeings on this planet have no limits. No other profession has the knowledge, education,leadership, support from college students to experienced professionals, and the ability tocreate a greater positive effect on mankind. 3Benefits to ASEEWFEO directly supports the ASEE vision and mission and provides ASEE and the U.S.engineering community the opportunity to advance the profession by speaking with onevoice on behalf of millions of engineers around the world. Working through AAES and itssister engineering societies, ASEE has the opportunity to effectively influence its policyinitiatives on a global scale with those that have convening power – UNESCO, the WorldBank, the United Nations, and world governments.WFEO provides an opportunity to ASEE members to collaborate and exchange informationand ideas with their foreign colleagues through its committee structure. It sponsorsconferences and workshops in which ASEE members can readily participate and benefitfrom.ASEE Member InvolvementASEE members can become involved in WFEO through a broad range of activities, includingmembership on a WFEO Standing Committee; corresponding committee memberships arealso possible. Members can participate in WFEO-sponsored conferences in some cases aspart of the official U.S. delegation.The committee of most interest to ASEE members is probably the Standing Committee onEngineering Education.6 This committee publishes the IDEAS series; the 2011 edition dealtwith quality assurance. A topic under discussion for the next edition of IDEAS is bestpractices in educating engineers for a sustainable world.Another committee that may be of interest to ASEE members is the Capacity BuildingCommittee.7 ASEE members played a lead role in the establishment of this committee andthe U.S. hosted the committee from its launch in 2004 until 2010.Other committees should also be of interest and for more information on how you can getinvolved in U.S. WFEO activities contact publicaffairs@asee.orgSummaryThe World Federation of Engineering Organizations provides unique opportunities for U.S.engineers to contribute to their profession.References1 About Us http://www.wfeo.net/about/ Accessed May 16, 20132 AAES http://www.aaes.org/ Accessed May 16, 20133 AAES IntAC Accessed May 16, 20134 9th World Congress on Engineering Education http://www.wfeo-ceie.org/wcee.php Accessed May 16, 20135 EWB http://www.ewb-usa.org/ Accessed May 16, 20136 Standing Committee on Engineering Education http://www.wfeo.net/education/ Accessed May 16, 20137 WFEO Capacity Building Committee http://www.wfeo.net/capacitybuilding/statement/ Accessed May 16,2013 4

Mohsen, J. P., & Sanio, M. (2013, June), Invited Paper - U.S. WFEO Engineering Activities Paper presented at 2013 ASEE International Forum, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--17255

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2013 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015