2024 Colloquium on International Engineering Education returns to University of Rhode Island – Rhody Today

KINGSTON, R.I. – Oct. 29, 2024 -The 27th Annual Colloquium on International Engineering Education, hosted by the University of Rhode Island, will be held Nov. 7 and 8 on its Kingston Campus.

Founded by former URI International Engineering Program director John Grandin 26 years ago, the colloquium provides a forum to discuss and share issues and ideas related to the field. The colloquium brings together engineering and language educators, international program administrators, academic, public sector and corporate leaders and provides common ground to talk about educating engineers for today’s global workplace.

This year’s three keynote speakers are Samuel Mathey, president and founder of FAFEDE Foundation; Michael Nugent, founding director of the Defense Language National Security Education Office; and Meghan Soens, vice president of sales for Boston Scientific Endoscopy.

Mathey will deliver the first keynote “Developing Entrepreneurs in Funding Constrained Africa: The Zero Capital Approach,” Nov. 7 at 8:45 a.m. His organization, FAFEDE Foundation, advocates for the cause of entrepreneurship in Africa and the concept of zero capital entrepreneurs. His presentation will be streamed.

At 12:30 p.m., Nugent will discuss “Building Effective Communities of Change: Reflections on Shaping Policy to Transform Language & Cultural Education Across Regions & Disciplines.”Nugent is also a former director (retired) of the U.S. Department of Defense National Security Education Program.

Soens will present on “Medical Device Innovation: The Role of Medical Device Sales and Marketing in Driving Change in Healthcare” at noon on Nov. 8. Soens, an alumnus of URI’s International Engineering Program with a focus on Spanish and biomedical engineering, will discuss medical device innovation in the interconnected workplace.    

Other event highlights include a Nov. 7 panel, “Big Ideas: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Academia and Industry,” at 4 p.m. in the Higgins Welcome Center Hope Room, as well as workshops on building IEPs, fundraising and diversity, and intercultural competence across the curriculum. Registration is not required to attend individual keynotes or sessions of interest.

This year’s event will close with a poster showcase in the Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering at 5 p.m. on Nov. 8. The colloquium meets at URI every other year, alternating with partner schools across the country.

For more information or to register, visit the colloquium website. A full schedule is also available.

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This press release was written by Krysta Murray, a writer with the URI College of Engineering.

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