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

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2024 Global Engineering Deans Council
(GEDC) Industry Forum

Hosted by SUSTech College of Engineering, Shenzhen, China

14 - 17 January 2024

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ABOUT THE EVENT

2024 GEDC Industry Forum Shenzhen, China

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A unique gathering for engineering leadership teams in academia and industry

Since 2017, the GEDC Industry Forum has brought together leaders from the private sector, education and stakeholder organisations to develop the engineering leaders, experts and innovators of the future. The collaborative and creative format presents an opportunity to leverage collective knowledge and experience while developing an influential and meaningful dialogue.

The $850 attendance fee covers all activities and meals; delegates should cover their own travel and accommodation. Many opportunities for tailored company visits and business networking will be provided. We will welcome just 120 design workshop participants, strictly 50/50 Academia and Industry, so register quickly not to miss out.

REGISTER NOW FROM CHINAREGISTER NOW FROM OUTSIDE CHINA

By 2030, it is estimated that two-thirds of the world’s higher education will lie within five hours flight of Singapore. Attending the GEDC Industry Forum in Shenzhen will be a valuable opportunity to meet your future partners and build your relationships now with the global talent ecosystem of the future

Who will you meet?

Join delegates from 5 continents with representatives coming from across the world: Australia’s University of Adelaide to the University of Southern California in the USA. Former NUS President and Founding President of KAUST Professor Choon Fung Shih will lead our inspirational content and with a third of delegates from mainland China and two thirds from abroad, this promises to be a dynamic international exchange, and important learning opportunity.

Airbus Logo 2024
Central South University
FXB Group
Galgotias University logo
Gujarat Technological University logo
IET logo
Mathworks logo
NICMAR University
Nalla Malla Reddy
Peking University
Quanser logo
Siemens logo
University Carlos III Madrid
University of Adelaide
University of Cape Town
University of Macau
University of Pretoria
University of Southern California
Vinayak Mission's Research Foundation
York University

More companies are supporting this event than any previous forum with representatives from the Automotive, Aerospace, Quantum Computing, Manufacturing, EdTech, Publishing, IT and Software industries expected to attend.

All practical, visa, logistics and security information related to the event can be found in our FAQ. Please get in touch for any other enquiries: contact@gedc-industryforum.com

A number of engaging, interactive sponsorship opportunities are available to support the event, our publications and outreach activity.
Find out more here.

The journey: engage, collaborate, innovate

The multi-award-winning Petrus team facilitates an immersive experience beyond typical conferences. It kicks off on Sunday, January 14th, with an opening plenary and a warm welcome reception.

The ensuing days are packed with inspiring talks, robust discussions, and the innovative Dynamic Design Groups, where attendees don't just absorb knowledge—they co-create it. Conclusions will be presented in a unique and engaging team format enabling all participants to leave inspired, energised, and ready to act.

The event will launch and conclude with a dialogue involving leaders from the Asian engineering education community to explore ‘East meets West and the Global South’ – in the changing geopolitical environment, how do we as educators and leaders continue to work collaboratively together?

Throughout the week, participants can engage in networking opportunities, meet budding engineers and entrepreneurs from local and international student organisations, and benefit from business, cultural, and industry tours.

GEDC Industry Forum - People enjoying the presentation
GEDC Industry Forum - People preparing their presentations

SPEAKERS

Dr Jane Goodyer
Dean, Lassonde School of Engineering
York University
Paul Karam
Chief Robotics Officer
Quanser
Dr Sushma Kulkarni
Vice Chancellor
NICMAR University
Dr Tanya Morton
Worldwide Director, Customer Success Engineering
MathWorks
Prof. Choon Fong Shih
Professor at NUS & Founding President
KAUST
Prof. David Srolovitz
Dean of Engineering
The University of Hong Kong
Kirsten Williamson
Founder & CEO
Petrus
Dr Zhenghe Xu
Dean, College of Engineering
SUSTech

WHICH THEMES WILL WE EXPLORE?

01
Skills & Talent
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Skills & Talent
How to navigate the impact of AI on our work
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In an era defined by AI's transformative power, explore how universities, industry and stakeholders can work better together to understand and share today’s skill and competence needs as well as identify the emerging skills and competencies required in future engineers. Above all, we need to engage students to drive their own development, remain curious and continuously learn, with mechanisms in place for career-long upskilling and reskilling.

01
Educational Transformation
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Educational Transformation
Scaling work-based and immersive learning
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Education is undergoing massive change and engineering education is no exception. We need to design new programs and innovative pedagogies, improve online and immersive learning, and optimize use of non-degree-credentials and modularity, even embracing entirely new ways of structuring higher education.

01
Discovery & Innovation
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Discovery & Innovation
Powerful global innovation ecosystems
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Fundamental research underpins technology translation into impact. With Shenzhen setting a prime example, learn about models and methods to enhance research partnerships between universities, industry and government in dynamic innovation ecosystems for societal benefit.

01
Societal Impact
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Societal Impact
Embedding trust and ethics to address sustainability
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In a world grappling with sustainability challenges, engineers must be equipped to act with social, economic, and environmental implications in mind. Educators, researchers, and employers should collaborate today to embed ethics, leadership, and a sustainability mindset into engineering education and research. Together with the next generation of engineers we will be powerful agents for positive change.

ABOUT SUSTech  

Shenzhen China: a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and fantastic learning opportunity

Shenzhen, a vibrant city of innovation and a global hub for manufacturing, provides the perfect backdrop for the Industry Forum.

We’re delighted that we will be hosted by SUSTech, a university that stands at the forefront of interdisciplinary research, impact, and entrepreneurship, and which is home to the UNESCO-International Centre for Higher Education Innovation.

SUSTech embodies our shared mission to advance teaching and innovation in global science and technology to the benefit of all.

SUSTech College of Engineering logo
Zhenghe XU, the founding Dean of College of Engineering at the Southern University
of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen (China)

Prof. Zhenghe Xu
Dean, College of Engineering, SUSTech

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The GEDC Industry Forum is an excellent platform for bringing together engineering education and industry leaders from around the world.

SUSTech is proud to be hosting this innovative and forward-thinking event. We look forward to welcoming you on our campus to learn and share together on the critical challenges we face.

TRAVEL AND PRACTICALITIES

Airports & Transfers
Delegates should book flights to arrive at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport or Hong Kong International Airport - Don’t forget to check visa regulations for visitors from outside China, more information about visas and obtaining a visa letter to support your application can be found in the FAQ below. Detailed directions to get to SUSTech will be provided.

Accommodation
We expect most guests will stay at the Sheraton Shenzhen Nanshan (CNY 1000 -1400 / $130-190 USD per night). We highly recommend choosing this option where there is a good choice of catering and social spaces for outside conference hours. Transport will be provided between the Sheraton and SUSTech campus.

There are 2 alternative accommodation options: Genpla Hotel Shenzhen Nanshan (CNY 650 / $90 USD per night) which is a 15-minute walk from the SUSTech conference center and the Guest House on SUSTech Campus (CNY 320-480 / $40-70 USD per night) with a limited number of simple rooms for those who are comfortable without English speaking support.

Further information on how to book your accommodation will be provided to registered delegates.

Coming Soon…
Additional practical information to help getting around Shenzhen, including payment methods, accessing WeChat and other useful apps and tools.

JOIN US AT THE EVENT

The event format is specifically designed to enable our community to flourish through the sharing of powerful ideas that result in inspired action. For that reason, the number of places available deliberately low, spread equally across academia and industry. Typical participants include Rectors, Deans and Directors of Education; R&D or HR Directors, CEOs, Heads of Engineering, Innovation or Technology.

If you have any questions about the event or would like to propose someone be invited, please get in touch: contact@gedc-industryforum.com

FAQ

Do I need a visa to travel to China?

Some delegates will require a visa to enter Mainland China. For more information based on your location, please visit: https://www.visaforchina.cn/globle/.

The time to process your application will vary by country, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible and no later than Thursday 30th November 2023.

What documents do I need to submit for my visa application?

Information about the documents you will need to support your visa application can be found here.

How do I get my visa invitation letter?

The option to submit the required information to include in your visa invitation letter is built into the event registration form. Once you have registered, your visa letter will be provided by SUSTech College of Engineering.

What happens if circumstances do not allow the event to take place in mainland China?

If circumstances do not allow the event to take place physically in mainland China, our Advisory Board member and partner at Hong Kong Polytechnic University will make their facilities available and we will move the location of the event to Hong Kong - easily accessible from Shenzhen. More information can be found in the event Cancellation Policy.

Can I cancel my registration?

Registered participants can cancel and with a full refund due if notification is received in writing at least two months prior to the event. The refund will be 50% if notification is received at least one month prior to the event. Following this period, no refund will be possible. Transferring the registration to a colleague is possible right up until the event itself and is free of charge providing such transfer has been requested in writing to contact@gedc-industryforum.com. More information can be found in the event Cancellation Policy.

What measures will be in place to ensure safety and security (physical and digital) at the event?

The event organisers (Petrus) together with the host university (SUSTech) are an experienced team who have organised many events in China and internationally. Appropriate measures will be in place to ensure a safe and welcoming environment throughout the course of the event. In addition, registered delegates will receive tips and guidance to assist with the protection and security of digital devices while travelling.

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