A Strong Start for Collaborative Innovation in Engineering Education
Kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+CBHE project ENG-INC
The Erasmus+ CBHE project ENG-INC (Enhancing Employability and Skills for Engineering Graduates through Innovation, Networking, Collaboration and Curriculum Updating) officially launched with a successful kick-off meeting held on 28-29 January 2026 at Hochschule Kempten, Germany.
The ENG-INC project, funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education programme (Project No. 101236601), brings together 18 academic and professional institutions from Europe and the Middle East to address a shared challenge: equipping future engineers with the skills and knowledge required in a rapidly transforming digital and labor market landscape.
Collaborative Vision and Warm Welcome
The two-day event was opened with welcome speeches from:
- Prof. Dr. Gabi Schäfer – ENG-INC General Project Coordinator
- Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hauke – President of Hochschule Kempten
- Prof. Ahmed Al-Salaymeh – ENG-INC Regional Projects Coordinator, University of Jordan
The event gathered representatives from all 18 partners, who introduced their institutions and shared their expertise and visions related to engineering education and capacity building.
Work Package Presentations and Strategy Planning The meeting covered the core structure and goals of the project through detailed work package (WP) presentations. Highlights included:
- WP1: Project Management and Coordination – Led by Prof. Gabi Schäfer (HKE) and Prof. Ahmed Al-Salaymeh (UJ)
- WP2: Preparation – Led by UJ and An-Najah National University (ANNU)
- WP3: Development – Led by the University of Patras (UPAT) with FAU as co-leader, represented by Dr.-Ing. Loui Al Sardy
- WP4: Quality and Impact Evaluation – Led by Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) and University of Cyprus (UCY)
- WP5: Dissemination and Exploitation – Led by Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie (PTUK) and Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST)
Each session focused on defining deliverables, setting milestones, and assigning responsibilities for the upcoming months. In addition to the presentations, participants engaged in bilateral meetings, site visits, and informal networking during a joint gala dinner.
Looking Ahead
The consortium will reconvene at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg for the next consortium meeting. Meanwhile, the next months will be dedicated to stakeholder engagement, curriculum development, and the establishment of robust quality and dissemination strategies.
We extend our sincere thanks to the European Union for co-funding this important initiative and to all partner institutions for their dedication, expertise, and vision.
Together, we are shaping the future of engineering education, regionally anchored, internationally connected, and digitally empowered.
Partner Institutions Include: Hochschule Kempten (Coordinator), University of Jordan, JUST, Mutah University, PSUT, Al-Balqa Applied University, Jordan Engineers Association, ANNU, PTUK, PPU, Skyedu, FAU, University of Patras, UCP, University of Cyprus, Creative Thinking Development, TU Hamburg, Al-Ahliyya Amman University