{"id":7440,"date":"2024-01-04T10:17:56","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T15:17:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/?p=7440"},"modified":"2026-03-26T08:21:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T12:21:52","slug":"event-recap-driving-change-in-engineering-education-at-weef-gedc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/event-recap-driving-change-in-engineering-education-at-weef-gedc\/","title":{"rendered":"Event recap \u2013 Driving change in engineering education at WEEF GEDC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As a global leader in engineering and technology solutions, Siemens Digital Industries Software is making significant strides in preparing students for the demands of the industry. Members of the Siemens Empowers Education and Startups (SEES) team joined industry and academic customers at the World Engineering Education Forum and Global Engineering Deans Council (WEEF GEDC) conference at <a href=\"https:\/\/tec.mx\/es\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey<\/a> in Monterrey, Mexico. Read on for highlights of some of the key presentations and workshops at WEEF GEDC and explore how Siemens Digital Industries Software is driving innovation in engineering education while inspiring students to excel in industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thought leadership in action<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the WEEF GEDC conference, Siemens Digital Industries Software demonstrated expertise in various areas of engineering education. These thought-provoking sessions emphasized Siemens Digital Industries Software\u2019s commitment to equipping students with the skills needed to create a better world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>AI-Driven Digital Transformation<\/strong> \u2013 Ricardo Rodriguez Sanchez showcased Siemens&#8217; forward-thinking approach to harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Changing the Course of Engineering Education: Sustainability-focused curricular resources to support engineering for a better world<\/strong> \u2013 Dora Smith, Senior Director of the Global Academic Program at Siemens Digital Industries Software, joined academic and industry professionals to discuss the impact of environmental topics in engineering curriculum, sustainability-focused curricular resources, and more. These discussions highlighted Siemens Digital Industries Software\u2019s dedication to the inclusion of sustainability in engineering education.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"7449\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-4.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-4-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ricardo Rodriguez\u2019s presentation, <em>AI-Driven Digital Transformation<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"7448\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-3.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-3-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dora Smith (second from left) with other professionals during the Changing the Course of Engineering Education panel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Building an exceptional talent pipeline<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Recognizing the importance of nurturing talent and ensuring a smooth transition from education to industry is key to industrial development. Industry and academia must work together to ensure students are prepared to enter into ever-evolving engineering practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Emerging Roles, Evolving Skills, and Industry 5.0: Are we ready?<\/strong> \u2013&nbsp; Shannon O\u2019Donnell, Global Strategy Leader at Siemens Digital Industries Software, joined an expert panel to discuss how educational curricula for engineering needs to efficiently incorporate changes to address the needs for a rapidly evolving landscape. Much of the conversation focused on industry-academic partnerships to build micro-credentials that will equip today\u2019s students to become tomorrow&#8217;s engineers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fostering a Culture of Collaboration in Engineering Education and Industry<\/strong> \u2013 O\u2019Donnell also co-led a workshop with Kevin Sutton, Assistant Professor at Appalachian State. The goal of this workshop was to empower educators, students and industry professionals to build partnerships that strengthen each other. Leveraging the experience between AeroEducate and Siemens, O\u2019Donnell and Sutton shed light on how partnerships can develop the skills required for the future of work and emphasized the significance of industry-academia partnerships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Teach them (students) to think, and teach them to care.<\/strong><\/p>\n<cite>Annai Cuvelier, Communications Director at SPEED and Account Manager &amp; Field Engineer at Veolia Water Technologies during the \u201cEmerging Roles, Evolving Skills, and Industry 5.0: Are We Ready?\u201d Panel<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-6.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-6-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shannon O\u2019Donnell with participants in the Fostering a Culture of Collaboration in Engineering Education and Industry workshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Partnerships and networking opportunities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An important part of any in-person academic event is fostering connections between students and industry professionals. At the WEEF GEDC conference, Siemens partnered with the Student Platform for Engineering Education Development (SPEED) to host the first-ever SPEED-\u201dDating\u201d networking event for students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Students seeking internships, jobs, or mentors had the opportunity to engage, face-to-face, at the conference.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Through structured and fast-paced one-on-one interactions, or &#8216;SPEED Dates\u2019, students were connected with talent acquisition representatives from Siemens Digital Industries Software and Siemens\u2019 global customers.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Companies swiftly identified promising talent and formed relationships that lead to new opportunities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-2.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-2-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Participants in the SPEED Dating event network with one another.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Inspiring the next generation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The future of industry lies in the hands of those who are both technically proficient and socially conscious. Siemens Digital Industries Software&#8217;s participation at the WEEF GEDC conference exemplifies commitment to improving engineering education and preparing students for the challenges of the industry. Through thought-provoking presentations, engaging workshops, and strategic partnerships, Siemens Digital Industries Software was able to empower students and educators with knowledge to address complex challenges and showcase dedication to creating a better world through engineering.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more in-depth coverage of this event, check out Dora Smith\u2019s article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/reflections-weef-gedc-2023-conclave-change-agents-dora-smith-otvye\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>. If you&#8217;re passionate about shaping the future of industry and want to be part of this transformative journey, join Siemens Digital Industries Software at the 2024 WEEF GEDC conference in Sydney, Australia. Visit\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/weef2024.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">weef2024.org<\/a> to register and explore the exciting opportunities available at this event.&nbsp;To learn more about how Siemens Digital Industries Software and the SEES team empowers the next generation of engineers and bridges the gap between industry and academia, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/\">Academics &amp; Startups blog<\/a> or listen to the <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/podcasts\/innovation-in-the-classroom\/\">Innovation in the Classroom podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a global leader in engineering and technology solutions, Siemens Digital Industries Software is making significant strides in preparing students&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":93418,"featured_media":7455,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spanish_translation":"","french_translation":"","german_translation":"","italian_translation":"","polish_translation":"","japanese_translation":"","chinese_translation":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,1837,42],"tags":[188,1581,499,1919],"industry":[],"product":[],"coauthors":[1834],"class_list":["post-7440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-education","category-events","tag-academia","tag-engineering-education","tag-students","tag-weef-gedc"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2023\/12\/WEEF-5.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/93418"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7440"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7454,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7440\/revisions\/7454"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7440"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=7440"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=7440"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/academic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=7440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}