H3E-a thematic network in engineering

The European Commission, under the SOCRATES programme of DG XXII, subsidises activities in the field of education at all levels, from school, through higher education, to continuing education. One of the innovations in the Higher Education strand of SOCRATES is Thematic Networks. A Thematic Network is a group of Universities (the network) which agree to join forces in a programme of educational development in a particular broad subject area (the theme). Engineering, embracing all the component disciplines, is such a theme and the one that is of interest here. One proposal for Thematic Networks in Engineering was put forward by a grouping of three Associations of Universities (BEST, CESAER, SEFI) and represents some 300 partners in total. Rather than selecting just one of the partners to manage the whole Thematic Network, the three associations created a separate body, H3E, or Higher Engineering Education for Europe, in which each is equally represented. The project proposed by H3E was the Development of a European Dimension in Higher Engineering Education, but this broad heading embraces a number of sub-projects. To undertake these, four Working Groups were established, each with about 12 members drawn from the parent Associations; efforts were made to ensure as wide a spread of interests and experience as possible within each group