Europäische Gesellschaft für Ingenieur-Ausbildung

Overview

The Société Européenne pour la Formation des Ingénieurs (French), known in English as the European Society for Engineering Education and in German as the Europäische Gesellschaft für Ingenieur-Ausbildung, is the largest European network dedicated to the advancement of engineering education. Commonly referred to by its acronym SEFI, the organisation is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and functions as an international non-profit association under Belgian law. According to uniRank, SEFI includes over 200 institutional members from approximately 35 countries. Its membership spans universities, technical colleges, individual professionals, industrial representatives, and student bodies, all committed to fostering innovation and excellence in engineering education across Europe.

Historical and Legal Framework

Founded in 1973 in Brussels, SEFI was created to respond to the growing need for a European platform that would support collaboration and innovation in engineering education. It operates as an association internationale sans but lucratif (aisbl) under Belgian legislation, giving it a recognised legal framework to act independently while participating in European-level policymaking. Over the decades, SEFI has established partnerships with key international bodies such as the European Commission, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the OECD. These collaborations have reinforced SEFI’s credibility and influence within the global educational landscape.

Mission, Vision and Objectives; Role in Higher Education

SEFI’s mission is to promote a high standard of engineering education in Europe by encouraging cooperation among educators, researchers, institutions, industry stakeholders, and students. Its objectives include:

• Encouraging the exchange of pedagogical best practices and research findings across national boundaries.
• Aligning engineering curricula with societal challenges, technological change, and the needs of industry.
• Supporting the development of interdisciplinary and inclusive teaching methods that prepare students for global challenges.
• Acting as a policy voice for the engineering education community within European institutions.

Through conferences, workshops, working groups, and publications, SEFI plays a central role in shaping the future of engineering higher education in Europe. It also supports emerging themes such as sustainability, digitalisation, inclusion, and gender equity in STEM disciplines.

Governance, Structure and Independence

SEFI is governed by a General Assembly, a Board of Directors, and an Executive Committee. The General Assembly includes all members and is responsible for approving strategy and electing board members. The Board of Directors consists of 21 elected individuals, including the President and two Vice-Presidents, who are responsible for implementing SEFI’s vision and strategic priorities. The daily operations are managed by a permanent secretariat located in Brussels. SEFI’s legal structure as a Belgian aisbl ensures operational independence while enabling cooperation with both governmental and non-governmental entities. Various working groups, task forces, and special interest groups allow members to contribute to key focus areas such as ethics, sustainability, mathematics education, and diversity.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role in Higher Education

Although SEFI does not directly accredit educational programmes, it plays a foundational role in the quality assurance landscape of engineering education. Notably, SEFI was one of the key founding organisations of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE) in 2006. ENAEE manages the EUR-ACE® label, a widely recognised accreditation system that ensures engineering programmes meet European standards aligned with the Bologna Process. SEFI continues to support ENAEE by participating in its governance and contributing to discussions on quality criteria and learning outcomes. SEFI also promotes quality enhancement by encouraging data sharing, programme benchmarking, and pedagogical innovation within its network.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

SEFI maintains a strong presence in international education and engineering networks. It collaborates with key organisations such as:

• ASEE – American Society for Engineering Education
• IFEES – International Federation of Engineering Education Societies
• IGIP – International Society for Engineering Pedagogy
• BEST – Board of European Students of Technology
• GEDC – Global Engineering Deans Council
• UNESCO, OECD, and the European Commission

SEFI also participates in and supports EU-funded initiatives such as Erasmus+, the European Universities Initiative, and Horizon Europe projects. Its collaborations frequently result in joint publications, cross-national workshops, and research initiatives that extend its influence beyond Europe’s borders.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

SEFI plays a pivotal role in transforming engineering education in line with 21st-century challenges. Current areas of impact include:

• Conferences and Publications: The SEFI Annual Conference is one of Europe’s leading engineering education events. It features peer-reviewed research, panel discussions, and workshops focused on contemporary and future issues.
• Academic Research: The European Journal of Engineering Education, published by SEFI, is a leading peer-reviewed journal indexed in major academic databases and contributes significantly to educational scholarship.
• Policy and Advocacy: SEFI actively contributes to European higher education reform through white papers, policy briefs, and consultation with EU bodies.
• Digital and Sustainable Transformation: Through its Special Interest Groups, SEFI supports members in adapting to digital learning, climate-focused engineering training, and the development of micro-credentials.

Looking to the future, SEFI is expected to expand its engagement with artificial intelligence, climate action, internationalisation of engineering programmes, and enhanced collaboration between academia and industry. These activities ensure that engineering education remains relevant, adaptive, and impactful across multiple societal domains.

Summary

SEFI – the European Society for Engineering Education – is a Brussels-based international association founded in 1973. With over 200 members in more than 35 countries, it fosters cooperation among educators, researchers, and industry in engineering higher education. SEFI’s strategic contributions to policy development, curriculum innovation, and quality standards have made it a leader in its field. While it does not directly accredit programmes, SEFI helped launch ENAEE and supports the EUR-ACE quality label. Through conferences, journals, EU partnerships, and thematic working groups, SEFI continues to shape the future of engineering education in Europe and beyond.

FAQs

1. What does SEFI stand for?
   SEFI stands for Société Européenne pour la Formation des Ingénieurs (European Society for Engineering Education).
2. Where is SEFI located?
   SEFI is based in Brussels, Belgium.
3. Who can become a member of SEFI?
   Membership is open to institutions of higher education, individuals, industry representatives, and student associations involved in engineering education.
4. Does SEFI accredit engineering programmes?
   No. SEFI does not directly offer accreditation but co-founded the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE), which oversees the EUR-ACE label.
5. What is the SEFI Annual Conference?
   It is Europe’s leading annual event on engineering education, bringing together stakeholders from academia, industry, and policy.
6. What is the role of SEFI in EU projects?
   SEFI participates in and leads various EU-funded projects related to higher education, innovation, digital learning, and sustainability.
7. Is SEFI involved in publishing academic research?
   Yes. SEFI publishes the European Journal of Engineering Education and conference proceedings featuring peer-reviewed research.
8. How does SEFI support innovation in teaching?
   SEFI supports innovation through working groups, training events, research dissemination, and collaborative networks on topics like digital pedagogy and inclusive education.

Organization Name

Europäische Gesellschaft für Ingenieur-Ausbildung
European Society for Engineering Education
Société Européenne pour la Formation des Ingénieurs

Acronym

SEFI

Year of Establishment

1973

Control Type

Private

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

International

Recognized by

European Commission, Council of Europe, UNESCO

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

21

Address

119, rue de Stassart
Bruxelles
1050 Brussels Belgium

Phone

+32 (2) 502 3609

Fax

+32 (2) 502 9611

List of members of the Société Européenne pour la Formation des Ingénieurs (European Society for Engineering Education):

Belgium

• Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – Université de Liège
• Hasselt University
• KU Leuven
• Université Catholique de Louvain
• Université de Mons

Croatia

• University of Zagreb

Czech Republic

• Czech Technical University in Prague

Denmark

• Aarhus University
• Technical University of Denmark
• University of Aalborg
• University of Southern Denmark

Estonia

• Tallinn University of Technology

Finland

• Högskolan ARCADA Ab
• Lapland University of Applied Sciences
• Lappeenranta University of Technology
• Tampere University Foundation sr.
• Tampere University of Applied Sciences

France

• Clermont Auvergne INP
• CY Cergy Paris Universite
• Ecole Centrale de Marseille
• Ecole Polytechnique de l'Université d'Orléans
• ENSTA | Institut Polytechnique de Paris
• EPF Ecole d'ingénieurs
• INSA Hauts-de-France
• ISAE-Supméca
• Toulouse INP - ENSIACET

Germany

• Technical University of Munich
• Technische Universitat Berlin
• Technische Universität Braunschweig
• University of Applied Sciences Mannheim

Greece

• Mediterranean College
• Technical University of Crete
• University of Ioannina

Hungary

• Budapest University of Technology and Economics
• University of Mikolc

Ireland

• Atlantic Technological University - Sligo (ATU Sligo)
• Dublin City University
• Munster Technological University
• South East Technological University (SETU)
• Technological University Dublin

Italy

• Politecnico di Torino
• Università Carlo Cattaneo - LIUC - School of Industrial Engineering

Latvia

• Riga Technical University

Lithuania

• Kaunas University of Technology

Netherlands

• Delft University of Technology
• Fontys Hogenscholen
• IHE Delft
• Saxion Hogeschool
• Technische Universiteit Eindhoven
• The Hague University
• Universiteit Twente
• Utrecht University of Applied Sciences
• Wageningen University and Research

Norway

• NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Poland

• AGH University of Krakow
• Silesian University of Technology

Portugal

• Escola de Engenharia - Universidade do Minho
• Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa
• Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto

Romania

• National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest
• Politehnica University Timisoara
• Technical University of Cluj-Napoca

Slovakia

• Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava

Spain

• Escola Tecnica Superior d'Enginyeria (ETSE) - Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)
• Escola Universitaria Salesiana de Sarria EUSS
• Polytechnic School - University of Lleida
• Universidad Carlos III
• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
• Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya UPC
• Universitat Politècnica de València - School of Aerospace Engineering and Industrial Design ETSIADI

Sweden

• Chalmers University of Technology
• KTH - Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm
• Linköping Institute of Technology
• Lund University - LTH
• Uppsala University

Switzerland

• Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL
• ETH Zürich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
• Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz
• Scuola Universitaria Professionale Della Svizzera Italia (SUPSI)
• ZHAW School of Engineering

Turkey

• Cyprus International University
• Istanbul Technical University
• Middle East Technical University (METU) - Faculty of Engineering

United Kingdom

• Middlesex University - Faculty of Science and Technology
• School of Engineering - University of Birmingham
• The Engineering Design Institute London - TEDI London
• The University of Sheffield
• University College London
• University of Oxford

Official Social Media Channels

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Wikipedia Article

Société Européenne pour la Formation des Ingénieurs's Wikipedia page

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