The Student Platform for Engineering Education Development (SPEED), a global non-profit organization that strives to empower students to become a factor of change in engineering education, celebrated 10 years of success last year. SPEED conducts student forums at global, national, and local levels in which participants’ work spans from need-finding to action plan development. In the past, successful action plans serving the members’ school and local community have been scaled-up and adapted at other locations.

In this seminar presentation, we will cover the journey of the student community represented by SPEED, working alongside the academic and professional community in engineering education. We will share how the student voice that SPEED empowers situates itself in the engineering education goals and accomplishments over the past decade. Looking forward, we will share our plans and seek your feedback for the organization serving as a vehicle for student empowerment, and contributions to the research and industry community. 

Bios

Avneet Hira is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University. Her dissertation research focuses on the educational potential of Makerspaces. Both her research and work with SPEED are inspired by her ideology to make engineering and its education more just, upholding ideals of equity and access. She holds a B.E. in Aeronautical Engineering from PEC University of Technology, and an M.S. in Aerospace Systems Engineering from Purdue University. As an aerospace engineering student, she has worked on building aero-models, theoretical unsteady aerodynamics (micro-aerial vehicles and wind turbines), and airspace systems navigation for flying cars. Prior to being elected as the President, she held the position of Vice President - Educational Content at SPEED.   

Allison Loughner is an Agricultural Engineering Student from the United States who is currently studying at Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana.  She has been working with SPEED since Spring of 2016 and has participated in the 1st Purdue Student Forum, as well as facilitated the 1st African Student Forum for Engineering Education in Bloemfontein, South Africa.  As part of the executive team, she hopes to advance the message of SPEED on the campus of Purdue, as well as unite interested students from across North America.