Robert RUPRECHT
The common SEFI-IGIP conference in Mis-kolc has proved to be a real success under many an aspect. It was a particular success in respect to the IGIP working groups even though they did not really appear as such during the conference: all the parallel sessions were attended by SEFI and by IGIP contributors. For some specific IGIP topics such as “Women in Technical Careers”, “Languages and Humanities”, and “Man and Techno-logy”, there was only a limited number of contributions; only the Technical Teachers Training group held sessions of its own. For this reason, this report will not contain any group reports. All of the common parallel sessions were very well attended.
To my knowledge, there have not been any single sessions of working group members to discuss further policy either.
The success of the working groups in Miskolc can be found in the fact that the problem briefly discussed at the last speakers’ meeting in Tallinn (yet immediately adjourned), namely the creation of a working group statute could be realized. During the winter term, some proposals were established. The group speakers discussed them and realized a common paper.
IGIP was not represented in great numbers at the conference, IGIP presence was about 15% of the overall presence, yet all the speakers of the (currently active) working groups were present. Thus it was possible to reach the goal set by Norbert Kraker to formulate a statute.
After Tallinn, some of the WG speakers have discussed the question of the position of the working groups within IGIP and their representation in the executive board. These discussions reached a decisive stage after the president had clearly expressed that he wanted the working groups to get firmly organized. There were two proposals to be discussed. The differences were not great but, at least, in some points important. In three successive meetings and one editorial session the two proposals could be brought together. The final draft was approved unanimously.
The new statute of the working groups is based on article 7 of the IGIP statutes. It describes how the groups should function and what position they shall have in the IGIP context. In detail: it describes the founding of working groups (the initiative must come from the members), the membership rules, the election of the speakers and their tasks, as well as the election of the speaker of all the working groups and her/his tasks. The essential points are:
The speaker of the working groups is per definition the symposium program chairperson
The speaker of the working groups regularly attends the meetings of the executive board as a standing guest
Thus, possible biases can be avoided. Of course, other speakers of working groups still can attend board meetings. With the board members Ralph Dreher, Gudrun Kammasch, and Robert Ruprecht the working groups are already well represented in the executive board.
The personal meeting of SEFI and IGIP working group chairs was another successful element of the common conference that can lead to new synergies. Both parties are convinced that the working groups must start and operate from the basis and lead an individual life in the context of their home society. The boards can just make proposals. At the given time there are some suggestions to establish new groups, yet, it is the membership that must take them up and start new ones.
Synergies between IGIP and SEFI could show up in the field of:
Ethics
Women in Technical Careers
Languages and Humanities
Man and Technology
Some prospects have been discussed; however, it is too early to say anything about them.
For quite some time, this group has felt the need for some new orientation. Sorin Zaharia, chairman of the group, proposes to give it a new name and thus a new objective: Postgraduate Education and Qualification Framework. The chairpersons present at the last meeting decided to join this group. They plan to delegate Ralph Dreher and Sorin Zaharia, both experienced in the framework issue, in the small task force to be formed between IGIP and SEFI and to present a common view on these matters towards the EU. The newly defined working group will discuss the EQF (European Qualification Framework) matters.
As Russia is joining the Bologna Process and plans to further develop the Ing.Paed.IGIP education, the wish has been expressed to establish a glossary covering the central concepts of the Curriculum in German, English and Russian. The success of this move depends on the willingness of the authors to make up a list of these concepts and to get involved into the translation process.
Last year, Joachim Hoefele resigned from all IGIP activities. During the winter, some of the working group chairpersons collaborated to convince him to revise his decision. These discussions were successful: Joachim Hoefele is ready to come back. Thus, there is some hope that the group he had led with great care will be revitalized. Whether the proposition of the president that he should chair the group together with Erik de Graaff will be realized, must be decided by the group members.
The experience that a group virtually ceases to exist if they loose their chairperson shows how important it is to have two people at the helm. This is already the case with the groups Women in Technical Careers (Kammasch/Gurer), International Aspects (da Rocha Brito/Ciampi), Mathematics and Natural Sciences (Gros/Stankowski), and Technical Teacher Training (Luebben/Ziroff).
At the moment this report is sent in, Hans Bernhard Woyand is getting ready to host the 2nd IGIP regional conference that will be held in Wuppertal from the 13th to the 15th September. There will also be some SEFI members present.
From November 6th to 10th the Fifth European Forum on Continuing Engineering Education and Professional Development will take place in Finland. It’s motto will be: Challenging the Future. Traugott Schelker and Stefan Stankowski are planning to join it.
This is the last report I write as the coordinator of the working groups. At the third meeting the speakers have elected Bernd Luebben (TTT) to be my successor. Traugott Schelker (Curriculum) has accepted to give him a hand in assuming his task. I wish Bernd and Traugott all the best for their new responsibility. For me myself I want to express warm ‘thank you’ to all of you who have given me their support over the last four years.