The history of World Engineering Day (WED) is one of global collaboration and dedication to sustainable development. It begins in 2018, when the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) put forward the idea of a day celebrating the engineering industry. This proposal received global support, ultimately leading to UNESCO’s proclamation of March 4 as World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development.
Timeline of a movement
The milestones that have shaped the WED celebration, from its first observance to its current status as a beacon for engineering innovation and sustainability…
2015
Setting the agenda
The beginning of a new era as the United Nations General Assembly announced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, setting the stage for a strategic global campaign towards a more sustainable future.
2018
The proposal
Every significant campaign starts with a spark, and in 2018, the WFEO proposed a World Engineering Day as part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations. To solidify this proposal, WFEO chose March 4 – the day it was founded – as the designated day, recognizing the importance of engineering in achieving the SDGs.
2019
The road to recognition
At the 40th General Conference of UNESCO in November 2019, the international community came together to raise awareness of the role of engineering – from mitigating the impact of climate change to advancing sustainable development, especially in Africa and the small island developing states (SIDS). Dr Marlene Kanga announced the launch of WED at that year’s World Engineers Convention, setting the stage for the annual event.
2020 and beyond
Building engagement
WED gained momentum as participation numbers surged. With each passing year, the number of registered events and social media engagements has increased, demonstrating the growing interest and commitment to sustainable development.
Themes and impact
WED evolves each year, as does the theme of each annual campaign, providing the day with a distinct and timely focus that highlights a specific aspect of the engineering challenge.
2021 | Engineering for a healthy planetCoincided with the launch of the second UNESCO Engineering Report.
2022 | Build back wiser, engineering the futureEmphasized the need for resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
2023 | Engineering innovation for a resilient worldThe development of technologies and infrastructure to tackle challenges.
2024 | Engineering solutions for a sustainable worldCelebrated how engineers address the UN’s SDGs around the globe.
2025 | Shaping our sustainable future through engineeringThe essential role engineering plays in achieving the SDGs.
2026 | Smart engineering for a sustainable future through innovation and digitalizationEngineering’s role in advancing the SDGs, with an emphasis on SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure.
Discover the history of WFEO
