5 International News Local networks celebrate milestone anniversaries Two IET local networks held special dinners over the summer to celebrate their anniversaries and reflect on the activities of their dedicated volunteers. Brunei Darussalam Local Network Brunei’s local network reached it’s 20th anniversary last year and celebrated this August, with a dinner at the Radisson Hotel, Bandar Seri Begawan. 168 guests attended, including the Minister of Development for the Government of Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency, Dato Seri Setia Ir Awg Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar. The local network’s Honorary Chair gave a welcome speech and said: “IET Brunei has come a long way. Through this network we are continuing to plant seeds by inspiring, informing and influencing our next generation of scientists, engineers and technologists.” During the event, there was an exhibition organised by the Young Professionals Section, and Professor Liyanage C De Silva, Dean of the Faculty of Integrated Technologies at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, gave a talk on ‘Monitoring the Environment and the Forest – Internet of Trees’. The Minister of Development said: “I dare say that IET Brunei is here to stay and the Ministry of Development looks forward to supporting all its initiatives in the near and far future.” A few highlights, from amongst the local network’s achievements, include: n  Facilitating a Memorandum of Understanding between the IET and PUJA – the Association of Surveyors, Engineers and Architects to increase knowledge and collaboration. n  Organising the IET Brunei International Conferences and Symposium. n  Launching On Campus student groups with the Universiti Teknologi Brunei and Politeknik Brunei, which enable students to learn from each other and meet engineering and technology professionals. n  Supporting secondary schoolchildren through Faraday Challenge events. This year, the initiative attracted over 90 students, and focused on flood defence following recent flooding in the region. Cake cutting at Hong Kong Local Network’s 30th anniversary celebration dinner IET India creates international links between universities The IET India office is pairing up Indian universities with UK counterparts, in an effort to enhance the universities’ engineering programmes, help them reach international benchmarks and produce graduates with relevant knowledge and skills. IET India introduced one of its Academic Affiliates, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), to three UK universities – Kingston, Lancaster and Sheffield Hallam. KIIT has since signed a Memorandum of Understanding with each of these universities in ceremonies that took place in May. The partnerships will enable exchange of ideas, collaborative research, dual degree programmes and faculty/student exchange programmes between the universities. Another of IET India’s Academic Affiliates, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Kingston. The universities will begin their collaboration with student and faculty research exchange programmes. Hong Kong Local Network IET members in Hong Kong celebrated 30 years of their local network at a celebration dinner in July. Past President Nick Winser attended and gave an address, followed by a Q&A session with members. He also took part in a cake cutting and toasting ceremony. Hong Kong Local Network is the IET’s biggest member community outside of the UK, producing around 150 activities each year to engage with engineering and technology professionals and wider society. The network plays a major role in sharing and advancing engineering and technology knowledge. Key events in its calendar are the International Conference on Railway Engineering and the Conference on Advances in Power System Control, Operation and Management (APSCOM). Congratulations to both local networks and thank-you to all the IET volunteers and members who make them possible! Minister of Development at exhibition organised by young professionals from Brunei Darussalam Local Network November 2018 – Member News www.theiet.org/member-news