ABET recently cosponsored the 2024 Encuentro Internacional de Educación en Ingeniería, organized by the Colombian Association of Engineering Faculties (ACOFI). The three-day event brought together leaders from academia, industry and government to examine evolving trends in engineering education and discuss the profession’s future.
At the symposium, Dr. Ann Kenimer, ABET’s chief accreditation officer, delivered a keynote titled “Preparing Agile Professionals for Dynamic Global Careers.” She detailed how today’s engineers face constant shifts in technology and workforce demands, illustrating how ABET’s accreditation standards help institutions prepare students for these challenges. Her participation in the opening ceremony underscored ABET’s active role in shaping global education discussions.
In addition, Kenimer hosted additional sessions for conference attendees. She, along with ABET Special Advisor Lorena Garcia and ABET Expert Pedro Wightman, fielded questions and shared insights at ABET’s booth. Visitors learned about the accreditation process and discovered professional development opportunities ABET offers to institutions and individuals seeking to strengthen their engineering programs.
The conference sessions explored a range of pressing topics, from sustainable development to curriculum innovation, as participants exchanged ideas on preparing graduates to meet the demands of a global workforce. ABET’s visible presence and participation throughout these discussions highlighted its commitment to promoting high-quality engineering education worldwide.
Both ABET and ACOFI prioritize collaboration with national and international institutions to foster academic quality and support educational programs in engineering. Their shared goals include working with governmental bodies, private enterprises and academic institutions to promote excellence in engineering education. Additionally, both organizations champion ethical training in engineering, support the formation of engineering chapters, and encourage innovative projects in science, technology and research that contribute to societal well-being. By facilitating conversations and offering resources, ABET helped create connections among educational leaders and policy makers, strengthening global collaboration in the engineering education community.
