Participant Guide: Agenda, Venues, and Recommendations

Three cities in the Colombian Caribbean will set the stage for the dialogues and reflections that will shape the future of engineering education during the World Engineering Education Forum (WEEF) and the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) 2026, to be held from September 21 to 25, 2026.

To clarify logistical details and facilitate your stay in Colombia, we are pleased to share essential information regarding the event’s schedule and venues below.

1. Barranquilla: National and International Symposium on Best Practices in Assessment

Schedule

Monday, September 21: 14:00 – 18:00 hours.
Tuesday, September 22: 08:00 – 14:00 hours.

Venue: Universidad del Norte.

Barranquilla will host the Symposium on Best Practices in Assessment, a key space designed for faculty, academic leaders, and administrators to share experiences regarding the understanding and application of the assessment concept in higher education.

📌 Registration: This event requires prior registration at https://weef2026.org/symposium-assessment/ (limited capacity).

Logistical Note: Once this activity concludes, the organizing committee will provide transportation for WEEF & GEDC participants to the city of Cartagena de Indias. The approximate distance is 100 km, equivalent to a 90-minute drive.

2. Santa Marta: Peace Engineering

Schedule

Monday, September 21: 14:00 – 18:00 hours.
Tuesday, September 22: 08:00 – 14:00 hours.

Venue: Universidad del Magdalena.

Santa Marta will be the setting for “Peace Engineering,” an emerging framework that integrates technology, technical knowledge, and systems thinking as a foundation for conflict transformation and the promotion of peaceful coexistence.

📌 Registration: This event requires prior registration at https://weef2026.org/peace-engineering/ (limited capacity).

Logistical Note: Once this activity concludes, the organizing committee will provide transportation for WEEF & GEDC participants to the city of Cartagena de Indias. The approximate distance is 230 km, with an estimated travel time of 4 hours.

3. Agenda in Cartagena de Indias (Main Venue)

  • Tuesday, September 22 (07:00 – 18:00 hours): Activities at Fundación Universitaria Tecnológico Comfenalco, Universidad de Cartagena, and the Cartagena de Indias Convention Center.
  • Wednesday, September 23 to Friday, September 25 (08:00 – 15:30 hours): Activities at the Cartagena de Indias Convention Center.

The core activities of WEEF & GEDC 2026 will take place in Cartagena de Indias. The program will include academic paper presentations, keynote lectures, workshops, deans’ meetings, a commercial exhibition, expert dialogues, as well as undergraduate and doctoral student forums.

Paper presentations will take place strictly in this city, according to the following schedule:

  • Research Advances: Tuesday, September 22.
  • Undergraduate and Doctoral Students (Poster Session): Thursday, September 24.
  • Engineering Education: Wednesday, September 23 to Friday, September 25, during the hours defined in the official program.

Please remember that the detailed agenda and the general registration process are available at www.weef2026.org.

4. ABET Workshops

ABET, a Platinum Sponsor of the event, will host two specialized workshops. These activities require an additional fee and are independent of the general WEEF & GEDC 2026 registration:

  • Workshop 1: Using Generative AI Tools and Techniques for Program Assessment
    • Dates and Schedule: Sunday, September 20 (11:00 – 18:00 hours) and Monday, September 21 (08:00 – 11:00 hours).
    • Location: Barranquilla.
    • Registration: ABET AI Workshop Registration Link
    • Description: This workshop connects the fundamental concepts of program evaluation with the innovative capabilities of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). Participants will explore how tools like ChatGPT can be used to optimize and strengthen assessment practices across different disciplines, with no prior AI experience required. It is aimed at faculty, assessment coordinators, and administrators. The session combines practical demonstrations with guided work to design effective prompts, critically analyze result validity, and address ethical use and proper citation of these tools.
  • Workshop 2: Basics of Program Assessment
    • Date and Schedule: Friday, September 25 (14:00 – 17:00 hours).
    • Location: Cartagena de Indias.
    • Registration: ABET Basics Workshop Registration Link
    • Description: Designed for those new to program evaluation who wish to understand the assessment process, as well as for those looking to review and benchmark their own evaluation plan against best practices. During this three-hour workshop, key elements for successful program assessment planning will be presented.

5. General Recommendations

  • Route Planning: Before scheduling your trip, we highly recommend carefully reviewing the detailed event agenda, identifying your activities of interest, and verifying the city where they take place to optimally plan your travel and stay in Colombia.
  • Arrival and Departure Logistics: For those participating in the pre-event activities in Barranquilla or Santa Marta, we recommend booking your arrival flights directly to those cities (Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla or Simón Bolívar International Airport in Santa Marta), staying there for the first two days, and scheduling your domestic or international return flight from Rafael Núñez International Airport in Cartagena de Indias once WEEF & GEDC 2026 concludes.

The organizing committee remains at your disposal to resolve any inquiries via email at: weef2026@acofi.edu.co.