NAFSA, the world’s largest association dedicated to international education and exchange, held its 75th annual conference in Washington, DC, from May 30 to June 2, 2023. The event was attended by professionals from over 100 nations; they hoped to discover the latest innovations, proven strategies, and best practices in international education.
The event was an excellent opportunity to “learn from and network with fellow visionaries and professionals, exchanging ideas and forging connections that will propel international engineering education forward. Together, we can break boundaries, embrace innovation, and empower the next generation of engineers to make a positive difference in the world,” said Manager of International Affairs Olga Golovachova.
This was the first time that uOttawa’s Faculty of Engineering had participated in the conference, and so the trio’s overall objective focused on sharing an international partnership model and the elements that are key to its use in a higher education setting. “For us, at uOttawa’s Faculty of Engineering, partnerships are a key strategic priority, alongside accessible education, research with impact, EDI, entrepreneurial mindset, and work-integrated learning,” said Dean Jacques Beauvais.
“Partnerships are a key strategic priority, alongside accessible education, research with impact, EDI, entrepreneurial mindset, and work-integrated learning.”
Jacques Beauvais
— Dean of the Faculty of Engineering
In 2020, uOttawa became the first university in Canada to sign a strategic partnership with the Egyptian government to train the next generation of Egyptian engineers in digital technologies as part of the Digital Egypt Builders Initiative (DEBI).
Through this partnership, the Faculty of Engineering gained valuable experience in how to respond to an international government request for engineering education development via a remote learning model.
“Overall, our methodology involved careful analysis, customization, and collaboration with our partners to create a successful and unique remote learning experience for students in Egypt,” said the Vice-Dean of Graduate Studies Liam Peyton.
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