Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to present a brief report on the activities of the Association of European Civil Engineering Faculties with the participation of Civil Engineering faculties from the USA and Canada.

The AECEF was established in 1992, shortly after the principal political changes in Central and East European countries created a basis for the development of conditions favourable for international co-operation. The situation required the establishment of new institutions and structures promoting and guaranteeing this co-operation. At that time, Europe, more than at any other time, lived for the ideal of a unified Europe and the foundation of a new Union of European States. In spite of numerous difficulties caused by different cultural, historical, economic, and political developments in different European countries, we must continue the effort and strive to achieve an effective co-ordination and collaboration of countries not only in Europe, but all over the world. Nowadays, this is not a question of mere political decision, it is a question of further development and the existence of humanity. Scientific and technological progress surpasses the borders of individual countries, as rapidly developing information and communication systems prevent the creation of closed communities and states which would exist without links to their environment and relations with it. The AECEF┤s main goals include the idea to contribute to this process. It is often difficult and requires patient and honest work from its members.

Over the first three years of existence, the AECEF devoted much energy to informing universities and other institutions of higher education, which provide instruction in civil engineering and surveying, about the establishment of the Association, its goals and activities in order to establish an active co-operation and to invite other schools to join the Association. The number of participating members of the AECEF rose from the original nineteen to thirty-nine over that period. A number of personal meetings and working contacts were arranged.

The preparing and issuing of an information Newsletter is one of the important activities of the AECEF secretariat. The Newsletter is sent to between eighty and hundred universities.

In 1994, a demanding and extensive research programme of curricula and study plans of civil engineering and surveying began. Thirty-nine universities and higher educational institutions took part in responding to distributed questionnaires. A detailed report on the partial results of this first research stage was presented at the symposium organised by IGIP/SEFI in Prague in September 1994. It was also published in the Newsletter. It is undoubtedly the first time such an extensive research project has been undertaken involving not only West European, US, and Canadian universities, but also institutions of higher education from Central and East Europe, i.e. from countries which remained part of the closed political, economic, and military block for a period of fifty years.

In 1994, intensive work was started on the preparation of the first international AECEF Symposium which is now underway here in Prague and whose principal aim is the exchange of ideas and experience, future development and co-ordination of curricula and study plans of civil, environmental engineering, and surveying at diverse universities and technical colleges.

Over the last three-year period, formal contacts with major institutions world-wide were established. The AECEF sent out information about its establishment and goals to numerous international institutions, such as:

• SEFI (European Society for Engineering Education)
• IGIP (International Society for Engineering Education)
• the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK)
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE - USA)
• AHECE (Association of Higher Education in Civil Engineering, Russian Federation)
• the Secretariat of the European Community (Brussels, Belgium)
• the Secretariat of NATO (Brussels, Belgium)
• the Secretariat of UNESCO (Paris, France)
• the Secretariat of UATI (Paris, France)
• the International Association of Civil Engineering Students (Vienna, Austria)
• the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC).

In accordance with the AECEF's Statutes, the Secretariat of the Association was set up and provided with necessary equipment to establish and maintain relations with members and other universities through correspondence and an electronic bulletin entitled CTU News.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me move on now to say a few words about the Associationĺs future development and activities.

It is quite evident that the coming period will be characterised by a growing international co-operation in all fields, and that consequently institutions participating in this development will become increasingly important. It is in the nature and commission of universities of higher education to play an important role within this process. This requires a certain degree of co-ordination of educational systems, curricula, and study plans accompanied by increasing exchanges of teachers, researchers and students. Such co-ordination in the field of education, however, should be based upon respecting and safeguarding the characteristic and specific features of each university as they reflect both the universityĺs history and the cultural traditions of the respective nation. In keeping with the principles of the academic and university environment, we should promote an exchange of experience and information, creating conditions favourable for discussion and for the encounter of opinions on the scope, level, and orientation of the education of highly qualified specialists in civil and environmental engineering, and surveying, and also in economics and management in civil engineering and in related branches.

The AECEF, as a voluntary international organisation currently involved with thirty-nine universities and higher educational institutions which provide instruction in civil engineering and surveying, will focus primarily on the following :

• the creation of a forum for discussion, thus contributing to the organisation of meetings of university members at symposiums, seminars and colloquiums,

• the provision of information on the activities of different universities and educational institutions through an information bulletin and through the computer network,

• the processing of analyses of curricula and study plans from individual universities and educational institutions resulting in formulating subsequent conclusions and recommendations,

• the establishment of a bank of curricula and study plans which are in use at universities and higher educational institutions with the instruction in civil engineering as well as of other data relating to their activities in this field.

Major outputs of the above-mentioned global activities will be as follows :

• the determination of basic requirements for the education of civil engineers in the first decade of the 21st century,

• the recommendation for European studies within the framework of member universities of the AECEF, compatibility of civil engineering study plans and the length of study, the compatibility of educational systems and structures of studies, as well as the requirements on civil engineering knowledge of graduates, and the unification of academic degrees,

• the influence of social. economic and legislative factors on civil engineering study plans,

• the requirements for the education of civil engineers in the field of systems engineering and environmental engineering,

• the consequences of global geopolitical changes and their influence on the development of civil engineering education.

Conclusions and recommendations of the Symposium will be made available for the pertinent governmental and non-governmental agencies in the field of civil engineering.

The results of this work together with other activities of the Association should be presented at the Second International Symposium of the AECEF in 1998.

It is expected that the circulation of the AECEF Newsletter will increase so that it will be issued at least three times a year. Moreover, regular monthly information will be provided by means of e-mail.

Further, great efforts should be given to the direct contacts with all international as well as nation-wide organisations whose activities and jurisdiction directly influence the content, orientation and studies of civil and environmental engineering and surveying.

The fulfilment of these objectives is not achievable without a certain financial support given by the members of the AECEF. Their active and effective co-operation is also expected. The organisation of the secretariat of the AECEF will serve the above-mentioned intentions.