A brief meeting of the WIETE International Academic Advisory Committee(WIETE-IAAC) was held on Monday, 16 February 2015. This was the first activity in relation to the 6th WIETE Annual Conference on Engineering and Technology Education, held at the Cinnamon Residence in Bangkok, Thailand, between 16 and 20 February 2015. The meeting was attended and chaired by the Professor Andrew Nafalski of the University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, President of the WIETE-IAAC. The discussions focused on several issues concerning the activities, achievements and challenges being faced by the WIETE in its efforts to provide professional services to the global community of engineering and technology educators. Issues relating to the research cycle and its impact on the activities of the WIETE were also briefly considered in light of the planned workshop to be held during the Conference.

The Opening Ceremony of the Conference was held on Tuesday, 17 February 2015. It was chaired by the WIETE Director, Professor Zenon J. Pudlowski who presented his introductory address. He welcomed participants and guests, as well as introducing the newly appointed Managing Director of the WIETE, Mrs Dorota I. Pudlowski.

Professor Nafalski, Professor Adinarayana Kalanidhi, Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth Science and Technology Academy for Research (C-STAR), Chennai, India, the Immediate Past-President of WIETE-IAAC (2010 - 2014) and Professor David W.S. Tai of the College of Management at HungKuang University, Taichung, Taiwan welcomed delegates.

Subsequent to the official part of the Ceremony, the opening session saw the presentation by Prof. Tai of a joint paper entitled A study on constructing capability indicators for C++ learners at universities in Taiwan, and the presentation of a paper by Prof. A. Kalanidhi entitled Improving the collaboration between academic and industrial organisations in engineering and technology education. Useful discussions followed the presentations.

As a novum in our annual meeting, a special session entitled Research Cycle - Round Table Discussion, under the theme Research publications, citations and research impact, was prepared and delivered by Mrs D.I. Pudlowski and Prof. Z.J. Pudlowski. Questions related to the topic were put forward to participants, and the response of the WIETE to this particular issue was aired. These evoked a useful and comprehensive discussion.