COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO COVID-19

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities, companies and other organisations have driven local and international efforts to tackle the challenges the pandemic has created in our local communities and more broadly. See below a collection of relevant initiatives related to innovation, skills development, employer engagement and community outreach that have been developed to respond to the crisis.

Campanha "Você importa"
Concremat, Brazil
Remote Knowledge Labs
Purdue University Northwest, USA
Sustainable masks
Universidad Libre, Colombia
VEMERS UC
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

speakers

Hans J. Hoyer
Hans J. Hoyer

Hans J. Hoyer

Executive Secretary, GEDC & IFEES Secretary General

Dr. Hans Jürgen Hoyer is Executive Secretary of the GEDC and Secretary General of the IFEES. Based in Fairfax, USA, he is a Resident Scholar in Global Engineering at George Mason University and an Honorary Professor in Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, and Peru. He has been a Resident Scholar at MIT and Harvard and is on the board and advisor of various universities and companies.

Prof. Dr. Yannis  Yortsos
Prof. Dr. Yannis  Yortsos

Prof. Dr. Yannis Yortsos

Dean of Viterbi School of Engineering

Dr. Yortsos is the Chester F. Dolley Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and also holds the Zohrab A. Kaprielian Dean’s Chair in Engineering at USC. In his capacity as dean, Dr. Yortsos leads the Viterbi School with more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, more than 300 faculty, and annual research expenditures

David Wilson
David Wilson

David Wilson

Vice President, Product Marketing for Software

Leads global team responsible for defining and promoting software technologies. David Wilson is ensuring proficiency development of National Instruments' platform in both education and industry. Joined National Instruments in 1991 and has held roles in sales and marketing. He is member of several corporate boards, is an avid maker, inventor and evangelist for STEM activities, and holds two patents. Holds a Bachelors degree in Physics from the State University of New York.

Prof. Dr. Henri Werij
Prof. Dr. Henri Werij

Prof. Dr. Henri Werij

Dean of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering

My academic education took place at the University of Leiden, in the field of atomic physics. After obtaining my PhD I worked at the University of Colorado (JILA) and the University of Amsterdam. After that I joined TNO, working in the fields of space instrumentation and semiconductor equipment. Since June 1st 2017 I am Dean of the Aerospace Engineering faculty at the Delft University of Technology.

Grazia Vittadini
Grazia Vittadini

Grazia Vittadini

Executive Vice President Head of Engineering

Grazia Vittadini was appointed Executive Vice President Head of Engineering in January 2017, and is a member of the Executive Committee of Airbus Defence and Space. She started her career on the Italian side of the Eurofighter Consortium, before joining Airbus Operations in Germany in 2002 and setting on her path towards senior management positions.

Vincent Saubestre, Ph.D.
Vincent Saubestre, Ph.D.

Vincent Saubestre, Ph.D.

VP Group R&D Strategy & Intelligence

Dr. Saubestre started his career in 1990 at Total and has worked in Operations, Business Development and R&D in seven countries. He is currently working at company headquarters in Paris to implement an R&D Strategy for the Total Group following a corporate reorganization supporting Total’s ambition to become the ‘Responsible Energy Major’.

Prof. Dr. Christine Ortiz
Prof. Dr. Christine Ortiz

Prof. Dr. Christine Ortiz

Morris Cohen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

At MIT, Dr. Ortiz is currently the Morris Cohen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and served as the Dean for Graduate Education between 2010 and 2016. Dr. Ortiz is also the founder of a new nonprofit post secondary educational institution that seeks to create an inclusive and modernized model of science and technology-focused higher education.

Dr. Theresa Mkandawire
Dr. Theresa Mkandawire

Dr. Theresa Mkandawire

Associate Professor and Dean of Engineering

Dr. Theresa Mkandawire is a trained civil engineer with over 19 years’ experience lecturing at University level specializing in water quality and supply, sanitation, wastewater treatment, and Water Resources Management. Dr. Mkandawire is also the first Vice President of Malawi Institution of Engineers.

Jens Meyer
Jens Meyer

Jens Meyer

Dean of Programmes

A serial entrepreneur, with a passion for unlocking value in organisations and people, Jens is the master designer of learning, development and innovation processes. He was a pioneer in e-learning and the internet economy, and spent years coaching companies on developing Blue Ocean strategies. Thought provoking, enthusiastic, supportive and thoughtful, he’s the catalyst of all the exchanges at CEDEP.

Prof. Jianbin Luo
Prof. Jianbin Luo

Prof. Jianbin Luo

Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering

Prof. Jianbin Luo, a member of Chinese Academy of Science, has been working on lubrication theory and nanomanufacturing for more than 20 years. In 2013, he received the STLE International Award. He has published more than 300 papers, 2 books and holds more than 50 authorized patents

Dr. Peter Kilpatrick
Dr. Peter Kilpatrick

Dr. Peter Kilpatrick

Matthew H. McCloskey Dean of Engineering

Dr. Kilpatrick is Chairperson of the GEDC, and author of more than 90 refereed journal articles in the areas of colloid and interfacial science, and molecular self assembly. He is also the holder of 13 patents and has been actively engaged in two startups.

Diem Ho, Ph.D.
Diem Ho, Ph.D.

Diem Ho, Ph.D.

University Relations

Dr. Diem Ho, member of the IBM Academy of Technology since 1995, is in charge of research collaborations, skill development, providing academic access to IBM resources, and promoting education reforms to meet industry needs and societal challenges. He is a frequent invited contributor to UNESCO, OECD and European Commission conferences on skills.

Dr Ishwar K. Puri
Dr Ishwar K. Puri

Dr Ishwar K. Puri

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University, Canada

Dr. Puri is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He is Dean of Engineering and Professor at McMaster University and a member of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Puri is the author of several books and archival papers and has founded technology startups. He served as chair of Engineering Deans Canada. He is the architect of The Pivot, a significant transformation of engineering education that embeds design thinking, innovation mindset and entrepreneurship in all programming. The Pivot transforms the curriculum through integrated project-based learning experiences, reimagines the classroom as a purpose-built studio, and amplifies experiential learning. Puri initiated the MacChangers program through which interdisciplinary teams of students work on local solutions for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Kirsten Williamson
Kirsten Williamson

Kirsten Williamson

Founder and CEO, Petrus

Petrus is a multi-award-winning international design company that specialises in connecting employers with students and the global education community. Created in 2005 by Kirsten, Petrus now comprises a team of 20 research, communication, education and digital experts creating and implementing projects world-wide. Petrus designs and delivers impactful learning experiences and creative campaigns, bringing together companies, students and universities worldwide for skills development, innovation, brand communications, recruitment, and community engagement. Kirsten believes that everyone has potential, and her mission is to enable young people worldwide to achieve their potential and make a successful start to a fulfilling career, whatever they choose to do.

Natacha DePaola
Natacha DePaola

Natacha DePaola

Dean of the Armour College of Engineering

Dr. Natacha DePaola serves as the Carol and Ed Kaplan Armour Dean of Engineering and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, USA.Dr. DePaola is the GEDC Chair Elect until October 2017, when she assumes the role of GEDC Chair, serving until 2019.‍

Chantal Barry
Chantal Barry

Chantal Barry

Head of International Publications for Research, CEVIPOF - Sciences Po, France

At the CEVIPOF, Chantal Barry is responsible for ensuring the international visibility of the research team and also leads a weekly seminar focusing on topics of intercultural and political interest. Since 2014, she has been a consultant at Petrus focusing largely on employability skills and cooperation between universities and the corporate world.

Paul Blackmore
Paul Blackmore

Paul Blackmore

Divisional Head for Student Employability & Academic Success

Paul oversees a portfolio of careers and employability support, work-based learning, employer services,international experience, student engagement, academic skills and Widening Participation, working in senior roles for +25 years at the University-Business interface and speaks and provides consultancy both nationally and internationally.‍

Zinyat Agharzayeva
Zinyat Agharzayeva

Zinyat Agharzayeva

Master Student

Zinyat Agharzayeva is highly passionate MS student with proven academic background both in research and taught studies, winner of numerical paper contests and holder ofB.Sc. degree in Petroleum Engineering with distinction from Istanbul Technical University. Currently, owner of TOTAL International Scholarship for pursuing double degree in Petroleum Engineering and Geo-Science at Texas A&M and IFP School.‍

Join us in Cape Town, South Africa for the 2022 GEDC Industry Forum Dean & Industry Design Workshop.

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