Session # 2560
Engineering for a Better World
Russel C. Jones
WFEO Committee on
Andrew Reynolds
US Department of State
Anthony Marjoram
UNESCO
Abstract
In 2003, the
The overall objectives of the “Engineering for a Better World” proposal are to strengthen
human and institutional technical capacity in developing countries, to promote
engineering to young people, and to provide
an interactive and catalytic role for the application of engineering and
technological resources to sustainable economic and social development
and poverty eradication. There is
specific reference to the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme
poverty and hunger, ensuring environmental sustainability, promoting gender
equity and empowering women, and developing global partnerships for development.
Mandates for
capacity building
“Let me
challenge all of you to help mobilize global science and technology to tackle
the interlocking crises of hunger, disease, environmental degradation and
conflict that are holding back the developing world.”
- Kofi Annan, 2002
Several of the
development goals outlined in the Millennium Declaration amplify this call to
action:
Eradicate extreme poverty -- reduce by half the number of people living on less than a dollar a day
Ensure environmental sustainability -- reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water
Develop a global partnership for development -- in cooperation with the private
sector, make available the
benefits of new
technologies—especially information and communications technologies.
The Monterrey Consensus of the
International Conference on Financing for Development states: “It is critical
to reinforce national efforts in capacity building in developing countries and
countries with economies in transition in such areas as institutional
infrastructure, human resource development, ... basic education ...". The
Consensus goes on to cite international trade as an engine for development.
The United Nations Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) cites capacity building and
training as one of its seven strategies. UNESCO is the lead agency for this DESD
effort.
An effort in capacity building at
UNESCO can address these goals directly.
“We need to
encourage international commitments to promote the kind of engineering and
technology that contributes to lasting development around the world.”
– Koichiro Matsuura, 2000
The Medium-Term
Strategy of UNESCO for 2002-2007 (31C/4) includes a strategic objective on
"Enhancing scientific, technical, and human capabilities to participate in
the emerging knowledge societies". It states that UNESCO will focus on
human and institutional capacity building and networking in the basic sciences
and engineering.
The approved
Programme and Budget for 2004-2005 (32C/5) includes regular budget and
extrabudgetary funds for capacity building in science and technology for
development. A background statement notes: "Engineering and technology are
a vital but often overlooked part of our knowledge, infrastructure, culture and
heritage, and are vital assets that require development, management, and
maintenance. The development and application of knowledge in engineering and
technology is a driving force of sustainable social and economic development and
an important factor for poverty eradication." A strategy statement says:
"The overall strategy of UNESCO in the engineering sciences and technology
is to promote human and institutional capacity building, particularly in the
developing countries."
At a recent
meeting of the UNESCO Executive Board (170), it was recommended that overall
priorities for the natural sciences sector be:
·
the principal priority
shall be water and associated eco-systems
·
the other priorities
shall be:
o
oceans
o
capacity building in
the basic and engineering sciences, the formulation of science policies, and the
promotion of a culture of maintenance
o
promoting the
application of science, engineering and appropriate technologies for sustainable
development, natural resource use and management, disaster preparedness and
alleviation, and
renewable sources of energy.
Mechanisms for capacity building
Following are
primary mechanisms that would be most effective in technical capacity building:
·
Development and
promulgation of educational materials at all levels: primary and secondary,
tertiary, and
continuing education
·
Training materials, and
programs to train trainers for developing countries
·
Workshops for educators
(e.g., on curriculum development, best practices, quality assurance, etc.)
·
Conferences for
decision makers from developing countries (e.g., on resources and methods for
capacity
building)
· Collaborations with industry (e.g., pursuit of the agreements recently signed with Microsoft and Intel)
As an example,
mechanisms to promote human and institutional capacity building in engineering
might include:
• Strengthen
engineering education, training and continued professional development
• Standards,
quality assurance and accreditation
• Development
of curricula, learning and teaching materials and methods
• Distance and
interactive learning (including virtual universities and libraries)
• Development
of engineering codes of practice for the international community
• Promotion
and public understanding of engineering and technology
• Development
of indicators, information and communication systems for engineering
• Addressing
gender issues in engineering, science and technology
•
Inter-university and institutional cooperation
• Development
of policy and planning to support the above
The above items comprise the primary elements of the “Engineering for a Better World” proposal.
The
program will also recognise the increasing need to develop capacity and apply
engineering in emergency and disaster response, relief, prevention and
management. Engineering plays a crucial but often under-recognised role in
dealing with emergencies, disasters and post-conflict situations. In the short
term, engineering-related needs include the immediate provision of food and
water, sanitation, shelter, security and emergency health services. These needs
are followed in the medium term by reconstruction, broad public health
management and putting people back to work. Longer-term needs include broader social and economic development issues
and poverty reduction. To facilitate activity in this area the Program will
develop linkages with international agencies active in these fields and form
partnerships with NGOs such as Engineers Without Borders/Ingénieurs Sans Frontières
(EWB/ISF), Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief (REDR) and the World
Economic Forums’ – Disaster Relief Network. In this context, an
“International Forum on Engineering in Emergencies and Disasters”, is
proposed for 2005.
Poverty is often considered
economically, but relates primarily to the limited access of poor people to the
knowledge and resources with which to address their basic human needs: water
supply and sanitation, food production and processing, housing, energy,
transportation, communication, income generation and employment creation.
Engineering and technology
-appropriate to the context of poor people in terms of the social, economic,
educational and knowledge situations- can then enable them to alleviate their
own poverty and promote sustainable livelihood development. Poor people are
often more exposed to emergencies, natural and man-made disasters, and there is
an important role for engineering and technology in emergency and disaster
preparedness, mitigation and response.
Program activities will include
promoting technology for poverty eradication, improving innovation systems
through applied research, development of information and information-sharing and
pilot project activity. To
assist in the process
of initiating interest and activity in this area, an “International
Focus on Engineering, Technology and Poverty Eradication” was held in
The engineering knowledge and
technology currently exists to make significant progress towards meeting basic
human needs and advancing more quickly towards sustainable development as
outlined in the WSSD and the UN Millennium Development Goals.
It is imperative to apply it now where it is needed the most and can make
the most difference.
Accordingly,
the proposed program would address the need for (in addition to the strategy
elements mentioned under capacity building in engineering and technology) direct
support for the United Nations WEHAB (Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture and
Biodiversity) objectives articulated at WSSD including:
water
supply and sanitation;
cleaner
production and recycling;
energy
efficiency and conservation, renewable energy and clean coal technology;
emergencies
and disaster preparedness and response, including urban security;
post
shock and conflict restoration, rehabilitation and reconstruction;
engaging
engineers in decision making, policy making and planning.
Program partnerships will strengthen the capacity of developing countries to address poverty eradication and promote sustainable development, as well as the capacity of UNESCO to assist in this process, through support in such areas as secondment and consultancy services. Program partnerships will be sought with governmental agencies, universities and education institutions, international organizations (UN organizations and international financial institutions), and non-government organizations around the world. Partnerships with engineering educational institutions will include a focus on fellowships for applied research and training. Fellowship visits would take place both in developing and developed country partners – to facilitate understanding of the local situation and needs in both partner contexts.
Conclusion
Program
implementation will include various types of delivery mechanism or
“modalities” of activity. These include conferences, symposia, workshops,
expert meetings, seminars, training activities, publications, toolkits,
curricula development and delivery, continuing education, videos and CD-ROMs,
indicators, statistics, surveys, studies and research, advocacy, advisory
services, monitoring and evaluation, institutional cooperation and partnership
with professional bodies, NGOs, the public and private sectors. The use of ICTs
will also facilitate and enhance activities in such areas as: distance and open
learning, virtual meetings and conferences, multi-media information and training
materials and electronic networking.
The
UNESCO “Engineering for a Better World” Program is proposed to be
established with a commitment of financial resources for a period of six years,
with the possibility of extension. The program will require the development of
human and financial resources in the engineering sciences and technology for
development within UNESCO, and strong partnership with national and
international organizations in the engineering community. The Program would be
part of the Basic and Engineering Sciences program of the Natural Sciences
Sector of UNESCO. The Program will have an Advisory Board consisting of members
of the international engineering technology and development communities. As
regards resources - the Program will require at least three core professional
and support staff, decentralized professional and support staff located at
UNESCO field offices, complemented by seconded professional staff, consultants,
fellows and interns.
Russel
C. Jones is a private consultant, working
through World Expertise LLC to offer services in engineering education in the
international arena. Prior to that, he had a long career in education: faculty
member at MIT, department chair in civil engineering at
ANDREW
REYNOLDS is Deputy Science Advisor to the Secretary of State at the United
States of America Department of State.
ANTHONY
MARJORAM is head of the Engineering Sciences and Technology Section of the
Division of Basic and Engineering Sciences in the Natural Sciences Sector at the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).