Unfortunately, however, we are not even close to using all the available talent that is needed to meet the challenges:
- Women are still underrepresented in some professions, engineering in particular,
- Individuals from families lacking academic tradition, immigrants and ethnic minorities do not always have access to higher education.
The reasons are many. Regardless, they deprive individuals of opportunities and waste human resources and competence. As the knowledge society develops it has become evident that the education system both must change and is changing.
- Higher education can no longer be confined to a few years between the late teens and the early twenties.
- Employers and society in general require life-long learning and workforce development.
- New technologies, and high tuition fees for traditional higher education in many countries have contributed to the emergence of new methods in teaching, such as for instance “flipped classrooms” and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC). Such initiatives may contribute to improved access to education, and catalyze increased opportunities for life-long learning and workforce development.
The seminar, that is a part of IVAs 100 years jubilee, will address issues such as:
- Challenges and successful initiatives to broaden participation in higher education (not least in the STEM field) and the academically qualified workforce.
- Demands on, and reforms of, education systems in relation to life-long learning and work-force development
- Opportunities enabled by recent technological development.
PROGRAM
8 - 9 AM - Registration and coffee
9 - 11 AM - Welcome addresses and plenary talks
Welcome addresses and introductions: H.E. Karin Olofsdotter, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States, Dr. Tuula Teeri, President, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Dr. John L. Anderson, President, National Academy of Engineering
Plenary talks: Dr. France Córdova, Director, National Science Foundation, Dr. Anna Nilsson Ehle, Chair, The Swedish Innovation Agency (Vinnova)
Moderator: Ms. Amelie von Zweigbergk, Education Policy Expert, former Swedish State Secretary for Education
11.00 - 11.15 AM - Coffee break
11.15 - 12.45 PM - Parallel workshops
Workshop 1: How to increase the engagement of underrepresented groups in education
Dr. Christine Cunningham, Professor of Education and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Björn Åstrand, Umeå University, Sweden, Investigator for the Swedish government, Ms. Eva Lundgren, School Policy Expert, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Dr. Okhee Lee, Professor of Childhood Education, New York University
Workshop 2: How to attract underrepresented groups to STEM
Dr. Tuula Teeri, President, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Dr. Jenni Buckley, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Dr. Martin A. Wikström, Director for Research and Education Policy, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Dr. Kyle Gipson, Associate Professor of Engineering, James Madison University, Dr. Camilla Modéer, Senior Advisor, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
12.45 - 2:00 PM - Standing lunch and poster session
Posters will be presented on successful programs such as the Technology Leap aiming to increase the interest in STEM of high school students, the Job Leap that enhances employment opportunities for immigrating academics and the Vera project that aims to increase the number of women in engineering by showcasing role models of female engineers. Other posters will present NAE-programs such as EngineerGirl, the Grand Challenges Scholars Program and the Online Ethics Center.
2:00 - 4:00 PM - Life long learning, workforce development and the changing landscape of higher education
Co-Chair: Ms Amelie von Zweigbergk, Education Policy Expert and former Swedish State Secretary for Education, Dr. Norman Fortenberry, Executive Director, American Society for Engineering Education
Speakers: Ms Amelie von Zweigbergk, Education Policy Expert and former Swedish State Secretary for Education, Dr. Norman Fortenberry, Executive Director for the American Society for Engineering Education, Dr. Anna Nilsson Ehle, Chair of the Swedish Innovation Agency (Vinnova), Dr. Bill Rouse (NAE), Research Professor McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University
