Engineering an engine of growthThe 4th PEC Int’l Deans Conference poised to exchange ideas to solve complex issues

The 4th PEC International Deans Conference is underway in Karachi, the hub of Pakistan’s economy with the theme ‘Engineering as an engine of growth’. This two-day conference (May 6-7, 2024) encompasses valuable exchanges including five technical sessions on various pressing issues relating to engineering and growth with several renowned engineering academicians who have traveled to Pakistan.
The conference has also set sub-themes for the moot and they include Global Engineers and Cross Border Mobility, Reshaping Curriculum and Practice – Targeting 5th Generation Requirements, Accreditation – Challenges and Solutions, Emerging Trends in Teaching-Learning & Assessment (TLA), Engineering Practice and Ethics, Cutting-edge and inter-disciplinary synergies, Realigning of internship/ practicum practices during education and Digital Transformation & Business Process Re-Engineering. The moot which will come out of the declaration of the conference on its conclusion also includes roundtable discussion on the topics linked with the subthemes.
Earlier, the PEC successfully organized three international deans conferences the first on February 13, 2018, the second on October 14, 2019, and the third in October 2019. This moot, being held after the lapse of four years was postponed twice for a variety of reasons.
The conference, as the perception as regards outcomes of such moots goes around the world is expected to provide a great opportunity to share best practices, identify issues, and propose possible solutions to address quality assurance in engineering education, standards, industry perspectives of Outcome Based Education/Accreditation, capacity building for online Teaching-Learning and Assessment methodologies and also encompass the approach to comply with the Framework and incorporate the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Engineering educators from around Pakistan and abroad are attending this conference. A report from the World Federation of Engineering Organization writes these conferences are an opportunity for leaders in academia, industry, and regulatory/standardizing bodies to share and exchange their experiences and ideas in solving complex issues of engineering education.
They are also an opportunity to discuss how the cultural values and socio-economic challenges of Pakistan can be included in engineering practice, education, and curriculum to ensure that engineering graduates are technically proficient and market.