Since the mid-1980s engineering schools in several industrialized and industrially emerging countries around the world have undertaken a comprehensive examination of their undergraduate and graduate education systems. New efforts have been implemented that seek to restructure the engineering education system. Among the many issues of concern are the application of information technology as a teaching aid, hands-on experience for undergraduate students, distance learning, and linkage with the information highway. Unlike past engineering education reforms, the current activities have involved an increasingly wide range of engineering schools around the world working in partnership with each other, and with industry, government, and professional organizations. These efforts are put in place in recognition of the need for a structural change in how and what engineering students should be taught.

The collaborative or partnership approach in reforming engineering education is central to many of the ongoing efforts. Examples include the engineering education coalitions that began in the United States in the early 1990s. With sixty academic institutions working in eight coalitions in the United States, the coalitions are beginning to attract the attention of educators from other nations. Similar programs are now being initiated in Brazil and Taiwan.

ICEE '97 was envisioned as a conference and workshop that would highlight worldwide experiments and experiences in engineering education. The number and diversity of the contributions that are published in these proceedings is a positive measure of the energy and enthusiasm that engineering education practioners are bringing to their profession. These proceedings also highlight the positive effect of government activism in support of pedagogical renewal and reform. The activities of the National Science Foundation coalitions in the United States demonstrate the positive effects of national policy in support of post secondary education.

An international forum of this magnitude would not be possible without the hard work, dedication and support of many organizations and individuals around the world. Special thanks go to the ICEE '97 steering committee and program committee; these were the individuals who set the direction of the conference and insured that the contributions were of highest quality. The local arrangements committee is also recognized for the tireless hours spent on the logistics of the conference and workshop, and especially the excellent organization of the many conference sessions.

Among the many conference participants, it is appropriate to recognize the efforts of the coordinators of two large delegations: Luiz Carlos Scavardo do Carmo of Brazil and Chun-Tsung Wang of Taiwan, R.O.C.

The post conference workshop has been most ably organized by Timothy Anderson of the University of Florida and Manohar Kulkarni of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC).

Special recognition and thanks go to the staff at SIUC that brought this project from concept to reality. These talented people include: Jane Evers, who saw to the facilities, registration, transportation and logistics; Corliss Thies, who oversaw the word processing; and especially Dianne Throgmorton, who organized the abstracts and papers and edited the proceedings.

Finally, a conference and workshop of this scope would not have been possible without the support of its co-sponsors, especially the National Science Foundation.

John Mead
General Chair

James Evers
Program Chair

Carbondale, IL USA

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