The First International Networking Forum for EUR-ACE Accredited Engineering Programs took place on May 29–30, 2025, at Lisbon Institute of Engineering (ISEL), Portugal. This landmark event brought together representatives from EUR-ACE accredited institutions worldwide to promote collaboration, enhance program quality, and reinforce the global recognition of engineering education.
The forum commenced on May 29 with an official opening ceremony, featuring welcome speeches from the event’s co-organizers and partners Ordem dos Engheneiros (OE), Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions (LACCEI), Enter Network, European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI), and Lisbon School of Engineering (ISEL). Following the opening, José Carlos Quadrado, President of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE), delivered a keynote presentation titled “The EUR-ACE Accreditation”, offering an in-depth overview of the accreditation process, its impact, and its role in the advancement of engineering programs.
The session also featured global testimonials of the EUR-ACE benefitd from four different continents, including Technological University of Pereira (UTP), Colombia, Polytechnic Institute of Porto (IPP), Portugal, Higher National Engineering School of Tunis (ENSIT), Tunisia, and Baishev University, Kazakhstan. These contributions reflected diverse experiences and successes related to EUR-ACE accreditation across continents.
The first day concluded with a special recognition ceremony where ENAEE President awarded EUR-ACE Label certificates to seven recently accredited engineering programs from Pamplona University.
On May 30, the forum was fully dedicated to structured networking sessions, organized in a unique and interactive format. Using a dedicated matching application, participants identified shared interests in advance, allowing them to meet in various Breakout Rooms, named in honor of distinguished figures in the fields of engineering and education such as Perronet, Arinori and Krause. After making networking focused pitches participants spited into breakout sessions where thematic tables named after historical figures in engineering were placed, creating a dynamic environment for dialogue and cooperation. Attendees engaged in in-depth discussions, shared best practices, discussed faculty collaboration opportunities and built partnerships around common interests. The innovative networking format emphasized collaborative dialogue and knowledge exchange, reinforcing the forum’s commitment to quality assurance and international cooperation in engineering education. Sessions were conducted in multiple languages, ensuring accessibility and inclusiveness for the diverse group of participants.
The second International Networking Forum for EUR-ACE Accredited Engineering Programs is scheduled to take place in Istanbul , Türkiye on June 4-5, 2026, continuing the mission of fostering collaboration, quality enhancement, and global dialogue among institutions with EUR-ACE accredited programs.
