Meet our Special Interest Groups at SEFI 2025

List of SEFI Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and their activities at the Annual Conference in Tampere, Finland

15-18 September 2025, Tampere University

SEFI activities take place year-round, primarily within our Special Interest Groups. Below is an overview of the sessions and workshops scheduled for the SEFI Annual Conference in Tampere, Finland. Join us to meet the groups in person!

On Monday 15 September, all the SIGs will hold their pitches between 10:30am – 10:45am at the Main Auditorium.

PHYSICS

Chair: Arjan LOCK (The Hague University of Applied Sciences)

The Physics SIG is a network of physics teachers and people who are interested in how to teach and learn physics in engineering education. The group discusses challenges and shares solutions, and every two years, the Physics Teaching in Engineering Education (PTEE) conference is organised.

CONTINUING ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING

Co-Chairs: Chris SMITH (Glasgow Caledonian University) & Aniko KALMAN (Budapest University of Technology and Economics)

The group focuses on researching, evaluating, and advancing frameworks, policies, and practices around Continuing Engineering Education and Lifelong Learning that respond to the needs of society and industry. In particular, consideration of why and how innovative educational offerings, such as short courses, micro-credentials, work-based and work-integrated learning, and flexible pathways of learning and development nurture and develop individuals and grow organisational capability.

Bridging Lifelong Learning in Engineering and Healthcare: Challenges, Opportunities, and Best Practices. Firoozeh Babayekhorasani1, Anikó Kálmán2, Darren Carthy3, Kostas Nizamis4, Christopher Smith5, Heli Väätäjä6 (1University of New South Wales, Australia; 2University of Nyíregyháza, Nyíregyháza, Hungary; 3Engineers Ireland, Dublin, Ireland; 4University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands; 5Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland; 6Lapland Univ. of Applied Sciences, Rovaniemi, Finland)

ATTRACTIVENESS

Co-Chairs: Hanne DEPREZ (KU Leuven) and Sofie CRAPS (KU Leuven)

The Attractiveness SIG aims to provide a forum open to students, practitioners, researchers, industry, and other interested parties to understand how prospective students perceive the attractiveness of engineering (education) and to recommend ways of improving it.

Attracting future engineers: students’ choices and core concepts in secondary education. Lykke Brogaard Bertel1, Sofie Craps2, Hanne Deprez2, Marie Gillian Guerne3, Irene Josa4, Georgia Kittou5, Klara Kövesi6, Anja Kranjc Horvat9, Patrik Mottl7, Cristina Simarro8 (1Aalborg Centre for Problem Based Learning under the auspices of UNESCO, Aalborg University, Denmark; 2KU Leuven, Leuven Engineering and Science Center (LESEC), Belgium; 3Leuphana University, Lueneburg, Germany; 4The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London, United Kingdom; 5University College Twente, The Netherlands; 6ENSTA – Ecole Polytechnique de Paris, France; 7Czech Technical University in Prague, Czechia; 8Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain; 9EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland)

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Chair: John MITCHELL (University College London)

This group provides a forum to support all colleagues who are engaging in the review, definition and revision of engineering curricula. It highlights innovative curriculum models, showcase tools to support curriculum development and to nurture and empower the leadership needed to implement curriculum change. It works closely with other SIGs who focus on elements of the curriculum or who support capacity building of staff to support curriculum change.

ETHICS

Co-chairs: Diana MARTIN (University College London) & Mircea TOBOȘARU (Polytechnic University of Bucharest)

The group aims to build a global community of friends in engineering ethics education. Our projects address policy, research, and education themes related to the ethical and socio-economic dimensions of engineering. We aim to put forward examples of best practices in the teaching of engineering ethics and support research collaborations on societal themes.

Attending to care in responsible and innovative design. Mary Nolan1, Samia Mahé2, Matheus de Andrade3, Nael Barakat15, Shannon Chance3,4, Sofia Durán5, Atsushi Fujiki6, Alison Gwynne-Evans17, Sarah J. Hitt7, Ronny Kjelsberg8, Nathalie Al Khakoun9, Celina Leão10, Johanna Lonngren11, Corrinne Shaw12, Takehara Shinya13, Idalis Villanueva14, Ana Voichita Tebeanu16, Mircea Toboșaru16, Diana Adela Martin3 (1Atlantic Technological University, Ireland; 2Institut Supérieur de Design de Saint-Malo, France; 3Centre for Engineering Education, University College London, United Kingdom; 4TU Dublin, Ireland; 5Université Grenoble-Alpes, France; 6Kansai University, Japan; 7NMITE, The UK; 8Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway; 9American University of Beirut, Lebanon; 10University of Minho, Portugal; 11Umeå University, Sweden; 12University of Cape Town, South Africa; 13Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan; 14University of Florida, USA; 15The University of Texas at Tyler, USA; 16Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania; 17Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Cape Town)

CAPACITY BUILDING

Co-Chairs: Jennifer GRIFFITHS (University College London) & Madeline POLMEAR (King’s College London)

This SIG aims to empower the pedagogical development of educators in engineering Higher Education through building a community of practitioners and researchers in education development.

BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF SESSIONAL TEACHERS: A WORKSHOP ON MATTERING, INTEGRATION, AND JUSTICE. Matteo Di Benedetti1, Sarah Plumb1, Madeline Polmear2, Dalila Avdic3, Mariam Makramalla4, Klara Kövesi5, Joelyn de Lima6, Peter Neal7, Johanna Lönngren8, Jennifer Griffiths9, Nikita Hari10 (1University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; 2King’s College London, United Kingdom; 3University of Bristol, United Kingdom; 4Newgiza University, Egypt; 5ENSTA, France; 6EPFL, Switzerland; 7University of New South Wales, Australia; 8Umea University, Sweden; 9University College London, United Kingdom; 10University of Oxford, United Kingdom)

MATHEMATICS

Chair: Deolinda DIAS RASTEIRO (Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra)

SEFI Mathematics Special Interest Group (MSIG) is primarily focused on finding answers to many questions arising in connection to the challenges of teaching effective courses in mathematics for all engineering students developing their mathematical competencies and skills.

AI-Supported Escape Room Tasks in Mathematics for Engineering. Deolinda Maria L. Dias Rasteiro (IPC/ISEC, Portugal)

ENGINEERING SKILLS

Co-Chairs: Neil COOKE (University of Birmingham) & Lynn VAN DEN BROECK (KU Leuven)

The SIG’s purpose is to inform educators on emerging engineering skills through discussing, developing, and sharing best practices.

COMPLEMENTING THE CONVENTIONAL: ENGINEERING COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. Lynn Van Den Broeck1, Neil Cooke2, Matteo Di Benedetti3, Thies Johannsen4, Emanuela Tilley5, Jenny Griffiths5, Ann-Kristin Winkens6, Helena Kovacs7, Raffaella Manzini8, Roger Hadgraft9, Gillian Saunders10. (1KU Leuven, Belgium; 2University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; 3University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; 4TU Berlin, Germany; 5University College London, United Kingdom; 6RWTH Aachen University, Germany; 7EPFL, Switzerland; 8Università Carlo Cattaneo, Italy; 9University of Technology Sydney, Australia; 10TU Delft, The Netherlands)

DIGITAL LEARNING

Co-Chairs: Mikko NURMINEN (Tampere University Foundation sr.) & Andrew GARRARD (The University of Sheffield)

The SIG will add value by sharing best practices, supporting educators, developing practical guides, building digital material repositories, and offering expertise on current trends like AI, MOOCs, and remote learning. The SIG aims to advance Digital Learning, stay updated on trends, foster collaboration, and align with broader educational policies.

DIGITAL LEARNING SIG WORKSHOP. Mikko Nurminen2, Andrew Garrard1 (1University of Sheffield, UK; 2Tampere University, Finland).

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ACCREDITATION

Co-Chairs: Jose Carlos QUADRADO (ENAEE) & Raja TOQUEER (The University of Sheffield)

Join our group to elevate your institution’s engineering programs with innovative tools and strategies for international accreditation, enhance institutional quality assurance and support professional development and recognition for engineering educators. Contribute to a dynamic framework for continuous improvement in quality assurance and accreditation processes. Assess your programs meet evolving educational and technological trends to address global challenges and the needs of students, society and employers.

INDEPENDENCE OF ACCREDITATION AGENCIES: CHALLENGES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION QUALITY ASSURANCE. José Carlos Quadrado1,2,3, Raja Toqeer4 . (1ISEL/IPL, Portugal; 2ENAEE, Belgium; 3ISRC/ISEP/IPP, Portugal; 4University of Sheffield, UK)

ENGINEERING EDUCATION RESEARCH

Co-Chairs: Tinne DE LAET (KU Leuven) & Ester VENTURA MEDINA (Technische Universiteit Eindhoven)

This group forms a European community of engineering education researchers to contribute with research evidence to the advancement of engineering education in Europe and in the world.

Decisions, decisions: Methodological approaches in Engineering Education Research. Esther Ventura-Medina1, Tinne De Laet2, Matheus de Andrade3, Shannon Chance4, Jonte Berhard5 (1Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Netherlands; 2KU Leuven, Belgium; 3University College London, UK; 4TU Dublin, Ireland; 5Linköping University, Sweden)

SUSTAINABILITY

Co-Chairs: Aida GUERRA (University of Aalborg) & Andre BAIER (Technische Universitat Berlin)

Sustainability principles have become an important aspect of the engineering curriculum. The group investigates the field of sustainability with respect to its impact on engineering education.

Strengthening sustainability in engineering education through collective action: SEFI SIG Sustainability workshop 2025. Julia Sundman1, Caroline Vonk2, Aida Guerra3, André Baier4 . (1Aalto University; 2TU Eindhoven; 3Aalborg University; 4Technische Universität Berlin, Germany)

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Co-Chairs: Fiona TRUSCOTT & Nathalie WINT (University College London)

The group aims to: make SEFI accessible and welcoming; bring the issues associated with the lack of diversity within engineering to the attention of the wider community; amplify practices that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion across engineering education contexts; promote research on diversity, equity and inclusion in engineering education; and create opportunities to share insights and build community.

MOVING BEYOND “BREAKING ICE” TO “BUILDING BONDS” IN ENGINEERING CLASSROOMS: AN EVALUATION FRAMEWORK FOR TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES. Erin A. F. Brady1, Sudeshna Basu2, Akrimar Tongkaew3, Carolien Van Soom4, Sofie Craps5, Joelyn de Lima6, Fiona Truscott7 . (1School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, United Kingdom; 2Department of Earth Sciences, UCL, UK; 3Centre for Technology Entrepreneurship, DTU (Technical University of Denmark), Denmark; 4Faculty of Science, KU Leuven, Belgium; 5Engineering Technology and Social Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium; 6Teaching Support Centre, EPFL, Switzerland; 7Centre for Engineering Education, UCL, United Kingdom)

More info on www.sefi2025.eu

See you soon in Tampere!

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