The UNESCO International Centre for Engineering Education (UICEE), based at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, has established a new publication series called the World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education. This new journal publishes high quality international, fully refereed papers on engineering and technology education and covers a wide and diverse range of issues including case studies, regional and country issues, pedagogical issues, etc, thereby facilitating the transfer of information, expertise and research and development on engineering education and thus realising the UICEE's mission. The World Transactions contributes to the publication of engineering education papers globally, essential for academic life and the continued growth and evolution in knowledge and understanding.
The current international situation has unfortunately generated a climate that curbs and disrupts attendance at international conferences. This, in turn, impedes the discussion and interaction between international academics and contributes to the retardation of knowledge expansion and exchange. However, the need to publish remains: not just for the recognition of individual and institutional work achieved, but more importantly for the exchange of ideas and the advancement of engineering education globally. The progress of knowledge for all humankind should not be confined to borders, or indeed regions, and it is certainly not bound by particular modes of dissemination.
A definite need has been identified for the publication of refereed papers by engineering and technology educators who are unable to attend conferences due to cost restrictions that inhibit international travel. Such cost factors can unfortunately lead to excellent papers being neglected and may result in grossly reduced involvement especially from less privileged nations.
However, the World Transactions counters this by providing a forum for academic debate where authors offset the production of publication costs, as with conference registrations, but without the further time and money spent on travel, accommodation and additional expenses.
High quality is maintained through peer referee evaluations by distinguished academics, language correction, editing, as well as standard formatting, as with all UICEE publications. Furthermore, it is envisaged that the authors of the best three to five papers in each issue, based upon the referees' reports, may be invited to revise and expand their papers for inclusion in the Global Journal of Engineering Education (GJEE).