European Convention of Engineering Deans | Engineering the Circular Transition: Digital, Sustainable & Human-Centric Futures

27 November 2025
News

The Silesian University of Technology is pleased to host the SEFI European Convention of Engineering Deans (ECED) in Gliwice, Poland, between 25-27 May 2026.

This year’s theme — Engineering the Circular Transition — reflects the growing need for engineering education to support Europe’s shift toward sustainability, digital transformation and human-centric leadership.

ECED 2026 will continue the well-established single-track format, offering space for deans, academic leaders and industry partners to exchange strategic perspectives, practical insights and institutional experiences.

Key Information

Dates: 25–27 May 2026
Venue: Gliwice Education and Congress Centre, Gliwice, Poland
Format: Single-track conference
Audience: Deans, programme directors, educational leaders, industry partners
Registration: Opening soon
Conference fee: To be announced soon

Conference Themes

ECED 2026 will address strategic and leadership-oriented topics, including:

Leadership and governance in engineering education
Institutional transformation and long-term strategy
Innovation in teaching and learning
Collaboration with industry and society
Internationalisation and European perspectives
Sustainability and responsibility of engineering education

First Programme Highlights

Opening Forum: Engineering Europe’s Future – Circular, Digital & Human
Plenary Panels on circular collaboration, leadership and alliances
Interactive Workshop: All Hands on Circular Transition
Student & Young Leaders Forum
Collective Insight Session and ECED 2026 Summary Reflection
Industrial Night in the historic Guido Coal Mine (Zabrze)

Preliminary programme

Sponsorships and Partnerships

The European Convention for Engineering Deans (ECED) provides a platform for leadership dialog in engineering education across Europe. The event brings together deans, vice-deans and senior institutional decision-makers to discuss common strategic challenges, exchange experiences, identify solutions and strengthen collaboration across national borders.

For companies, ECED provides a unique platform to:

Position your organisation as a key partner in shaping engineering education and skills development in Europe
Connect directly with institutional leaders and decision-makers from universities across multiple countries during interactive sessions
Present your technologies, solutions and expertise to a highly targeted audience
Strengthen long-term collaborations with academic institutions and European networks

ECED Sponsorship – Option 1	ECED Sponsorship – Option 2
Standard fee: € 3 000 SEFI corporate partners: € 2 500	Standard fee: € 2 100 SEFI corporate partners: € 1 750
This package includes: Company logo featured on the ECED website and in the official programme Full access to all plenary sessions and group discussions One complimentary registration, including participation in the Convention Dinner Participation of one company representative in the Industrial Panel during the Welcome Reception Exhibition table for displaying information and marketing materials throughout the event	This package includes: Full access to all plenary sessions and group discussions One complimentary registration (Convention Dinner not included) Exhibition table for displaying information and marketing materials throughout the event

If you are interested in supporting the ECED 2026 or wishes to explore tailored partnership opportunities, please contact: klara.ferdova@sefi.be

See the full details for sponsorship options here

Student Poster Session

Theme – Student Visions for the Circular Engineering Future
Submission Deadline – 18 May 2026
Submit to – eced2026@polsl.pl
Eligibility – The session is open to BSc, MSc, and early PhD students (within the first two years of their doctoral programme) from European universities, applying individually or in teams (1–4 students). At least one student author must attend ECED 2026 in person and be present during the poster session.

Submission and Selection

Submissions are based on a short abstract (up to 220 words) addressing:

the idea or problem tackled,
the innovative or original aspect,
the link to the ECED 2026 theme (circular, digital, human-centric),
any industry or alliance collaboration (if applicable).

Evaluation and Awards

Posters will be evaluated on:

relevance to the ECED 2026 theme,
innovation and originality,
clarity and coherence of the idea,
potential to inspire deans and educational leaders,
(optional) quality of collaboration with industry or alliances.

A Best Poster Award and up to two Honourable Mentions will be decided by a jury of SEFI Corporate Partners’ representatives.
Finalist poster teams (approx. 3–5) will be invited to the Industrial Night at the Guido Mine, where the awards will be announced and presented.

See the full details for the Student Poster Session here