Prof. Thomas Wong, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL USA

Thomas Wong read electrical engineering at the University of Hong Kong and did graduate work in microwave measurement of materials at Northwestern University. He joined the faculty of Illinois Institute of Technology in 1981 and is currently professor emeritus. He has served as graduate program director in electrical and computer engineering, department chairman, and chair of the faculty council. His research has mainly been in applied electromagnetics, microwave instrumentation, and material characterization. He has been involved in the planning, development and mentoring in an interdisciplinary project-based learning program for two decades. He is the author of Fundamentals of Distributed Amplification (Artech, 1993), co-author of Electromagnetic Fields and Waves (Higher Education Press, 2006 & 2012), and originator of several patents in microwave electronics and wireless systems.

Title：Innovation as an Engineering Education Goal and Beyond

Abstract----Innovation and STEM programs were identified as effective measures to foster economic growth and improvement in the quality of life. An examination of the recent changes in the engineering curriculum and its delivery are discussed in light of innovation as a learning goal.  Project-based learning and design experience appear to be two common themes championed by the initiatives of educational institutions, from school districts to universities and continuing education programs. Effective methods for assessment of student performance in projects have been a subject of considerable interest with far-reaching implications.  As electronic products and software become more complex, the inquisitive technology enthusiast or curious hobbyist have been able to find their own paths to fulfill their quest for staying abreast with advancement in industry. Most of the practitioners, whether by profession or personal interest, were motivated at young age to pursue their technical endeavor by an inspiring teacher or encouragement from their parents or a close relative. Their enthusiasm and knowledge gain are fortified by school projects, science fairs, and interest groups both locally and on the Internet. The engineering curriculum and course contents are keeping pace with new development in the field, while professional organizations are sponsoring student project competitions as part of their technical conference programs. A graduating engineer with demonstrable ability to make transition to integrate with industrial teams and contribute to growth of the organization will be sought after by prospective employers. The discussion culminates with an outlook for international collaboration in advancement of technology, realization of a sustainable planet, and world peace.

Prof. Fan Yang, IEEE Fellow，ACES Fellow, Tsinghua University, China

Professor Fan Yang received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Radio Engineering from Tsinghua University in 1997 and 1999, respectively, and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2002. He has previously served as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at UCLA and held a tenured faculty position at the University of Mississippi. Currently, he is a professor and doctoral supervisor at Tsinghua University. From 2011 to 2020, he served as the Director of the Microwave and Antenna Research Institute at the Department of Electronic Engineering, Tsinghua University.Professor Yang's primary research interests include modern antenna theory, design, and measurement; exploration and application of novel electromagnetic materials; numerical algorithms and optimization for electromagnetic fields; and the research and development of applied electromagnetic systems. He has undertaken numerous significant national research projects, including those funded by the National 863 Program, 973 Program, the General Armament Department, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Key Research and Development Program. He has also led the construction of the Electromagnetics Laboratory Center at Tsinghua University.To date, Professor Yang has authored six academic monographs and published 136 journal papers, with 129 indexed by SCI and 91 in IEEE journals. His work has been cited over 3,000 times in SCI. He has filed more than 20 invention patents, with 12 granted, including two U.S. patents, and has transferred two invention patents.Professor Yang's research has garnered widespread recognition. He has delivered numerous invited keynote speeches at domestic and international conferences and organized special forums. He has also taught professional courses at prestigious international conferences such as the IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (the top conference in this field) more than ten times. In 2017, he was selected as a Distinguished Lecturer by the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society. In 2018, he was elected as an IEEE Fellow, recognizing his significant international influence. The same year, he was also elected as a Fellow of the Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES).

Prof. Keze Wang, Sun Yat-sen University, China

Keze WangDr. Keze Wang received his Bachelor's degree in 2012 and Ph.D. in 2017 from Sun Yat-sen University. He then joined the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a postdoctoral researcher. In 2019, he obtained a second Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.Dr. Wang has long been dedicated to foundational research in visual computing and reasoning. He proposed fundamental learning paradigms such as "Guided-Self-Paced-Collaborative" lifelong autonomous learning, which offer effective solutions to key challenges like autonomous learning from chaotic data. His research has yielded influential academic outcomes.He has published over 30 papers in top-tier journals and conferences, including prestigious venues such as IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence (PAMI) (2 papers), IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems (TNNLS), International Journal of Computer Vision (IJCV), IEEE Transactions on Image Processing (TIP), IEEE Transactions on Multimedia (TMM), IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology (TCSVT), as well as leading conferences like CVPR and ICCV. Many of these publications are in Zone 1 journals of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and CCF-A ranked conferences.