Saifur Rahman

Candidate statement (Saifur Rahman)

IEEE, the largest technical professional society in the world, has a very broad footprint while specializing in depth in most areas of electrical engineering. With almost 2,000 conferences, 150 magazines and journals, global standards activities and with five million articles in the IEEE Xplore digital library, the IEEE is a very complex organization. Members, and technology professionals in general, benefit from IEEE in many different ways. At the same time volunteers give their time and effort to keep the IEEE engine running. However, many other volunteers do not find the IEEE relevant to their work, or cannot benefit from the IEEE offerings.

As the President of IEEE, I promise to address this challenge through a sharp focus on the following which will ensure that the IEEE becomes more global and more relevant to technology professionals worldwide.

First, demonstration of relevance. There is a perceived lack of relevance of the IEEE membership to an engineer’s professional work. Through proactive outreach and by highlighting the benefits of IEEE membership – from unparalleled networking opportunities at almost 2000 international IEEE conferences (both face-to-face and virtual), access to the finest technological literature, massive resources for up-skilling, innovative collaboration facilities with like-minded colleagues worldwide, we can powerfully demonstrate IEEE’s immense value to current and prospective members.

Second, deeper engagement with technologists at the grassroots level.  For IEEE societies, chapter members are our key resource. To provide a direct link between chapter leadership and the society governing board, I set up the highly effective IEEE Power & Energy Society Chapters’ Councils in China, India, Africa and Latin America that engage members, organize local events and reach out to local industry. I will mirror similar developments throughout IEEE.

Third, enhanced lifelong learning opportunities. One of the high-value opportunities IEEE members and non-members have expressed to me is lifelong learning, which IEEE can provide. I helped establish the very successful online PES University. This “university” offers tutorials, webinars and plain-talk courses in the Power & Energy Society’s field of interest. I will work on setting up an IEEE University encompassing all of IEEE’s fields of interest to support career development of practicing technologists.

Fourth, giving life to our motto, Advancing Technology for Humanity. The global events of the past several months have shown us that technologists have a role to play for humanity. The COVID-19 outbreak is bound to change our outlook, our focus, our future planning and the delivery of services. On another front – slightly longer term – IEEE members can help to mitigate the impacts of climate change on our lives and livelihood. Let us employ the matchless facilities IEEE offers to address the post-COVID ‘new normal’ supporting remote working, international collaboration, continuing professional development, and build a resilient future.