The president of the Specific Thematic Congress “Engineering Education for Sustainable Development” of the World Congress and Exhibition: "ENGINEERING 2010-ARGENTINA", speaks about his participation in this event and gives an overview of the situation of engineering education in our country and possible solutions for the lack of vocation.

Question: What does it mean to you, at the professional and personal level, to be part of ENGINEERING 2010-ARGENTINA?
Luis Vaca Arenaza: It means to participate in an enriching event in terms of professionals and cultures, and to value the diversity of opinions that participants impose on engineering education. Even though there are in the world technological tools that facilitate communication and understanding of these viewpoints, the speed at which the interchanges are produced does not allow the adequate reflection time needed for the understanding and planning of a professional who will work, at least, fifteen years after his curriculum has been designed. It is very rewarding for me to fully share the core topics of the Congress 2010 and in terms of Engineering Education for Sustainable Development, to spread it through the event.  

Question: How do you see the national engineering education? How is it positioned in comparison to professionals trained abroad?
Luis Vaca Arenaza: The education provided in Argentina has had international recognition for its quality as much as for its understanding of the ever-changing reality. In terms of commitment with our regional reality, we have to understand that engineering education produces a professional with a good balance of scientific, technological and management knowledge, oriented to practice in multicultural environments. Besides, local engineers must have a basic human and entrepreneurial training that allows them to take over leadership positions with an executive attitude and with the capacity to manage in environments where information and communication technologies are essential to engineering professional practice. This engineer must have specific competences such as: Broad cultural education, Creativity, Innovation, Languages, Communication Skills, People and Teams Management Capacity , sense of the business discipline, decision-making skills, predisposition to change, Integrity (intellectual and ideological), methodological analysis skills, a flair for process simulation, knowledge of processes safety, etc.

Question: As a hint on the Thematic Congress that you preside, I would like to know, according to your opinion, Why is the promotion on scientific education so scarce at present? And What are the measures the Government should take about it?
Luis Vaca Arenaza: The government, through its application authorities has designed plans and programs; it is already taking measures that we hope will have satisfactory results. From my point of view, it is society who should understand the importance of engineering and come to terms with the fact that engineering is one of the fundamental pillars for the economic and sustainable development of the countries, and which contributes by narrowing the gaps that hinder the inclusion of all the sectors of the population. The engineer has the duty and obligation of actively participating in the society so as to allow the understanding of his actions and the construction of a world of welfare measurable in tangible units. On the other hand, the government through its competent agencies must be able to dynamize and activate students’ participation by means of methodologies that imply better learning according to the current society and industry requirements instead of just being a mere transference of knowledge from teacher to students.  They must foster the development of the initiative and the creation of an entrepreneurial mentality.  

Question: To finish: Who are, so far, members of the Organizing Commission of your Congress and what are, in general, your expectations for ENGINEERING 2010-ARGENTINA?
Luis Vaca Arenaza: The commission is formed by representatives of engineering in every field of the professional practice (Academy, Industry, Services, etc.). All of them from a national and/or international viewpoint are responsible for engineering education and have great expectations about the interchanges that will take place during the congress.