Editorial

The coming 14th of June 2012 sees the conclusion of the Faculty of Engineering's present administration which I have been overseeing since 15th June 2006. This gives me the chance to emphasise very important achievements regarding research which have been obtained during this time, beginning with our in-house journal Ingeniería e Investigación which managed to achieve Colciencias' hon-ourable Publindex category A1, ranking us as one of Colombia's foremost engineering research journals. Ascending to such respectable category has meant ongoing work demanding much dedication, primarily by the editorial board which has ensured the journal's continuity by adopting a most professional approach and insisting on scientific rigour and encompassing demanding ethical principles when selecting articles by the editorial committee. Colciencias is contemplating new rules for categorising journals; however, we should not be worried about such change if we maintain the high quality academic requirements demanded by national and international scientific publications.

The Universidad Nacional de Colombia's Faculty of Engineering represented by Ingeniería e Investigación, supported by the Colombian Association of Engineering Facul-ties (Asociacion Colombiana de Faculties de Ingenieria - ACOFI) and other Colombian universities, has managed the Colombian engineering journals' network since 2011, thereby creating a space for discussion about scientific publications' editorial policy in Colombia. We ran the Second Engineering Expo, EXPOINGENIERÍA, together with ACOFI last year in Corferias, during the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Engineering Faculty, which brought together all the engineering faculties in Colombia to present the results of research groups' scientific projects and achievements. The foregoing are samples of the Faculty of Engineering's leadership regarding research which must continue to forge ahead aimed at contributing towards broadcasting science, technology and innovation produced by teachers and investigators from faculties of engineering in Colombia and abroad.

The Faculty of Engineering's growth can be seen in the number of teachers having gained a PhD during the last six years, rising from 45 PhDs in 2006 to 86 today having the highest academic formation. It is hoped to conclude 2012 with 100 professors having been awarded their PhDs, thereby contributing towards improving formation at under- and post-graduate level, investigation and further education aimed at achieving and ensuring academic excellence.

The Faculty of Engineering has also made advances regard-ing infrastructure during this time concerning administrative matters, teaching and research. 10,000 square metres have been constructed and the running of another 5,400 has been assumed, as well as the creation of three new laboratories: electromagnetic compatibility, mechatronics and an integrated industrial engineering laboratory. The budget for investing in equipment and improving infrastructure has always ranged from two to three thousand million pesos annually, keeping technology up to date and maintaining physical working conditions. Nevertheless, greater efforts must be made to ensure that a new building is constructed for integrating the faculty's laboratories aimed at interdisci-plinary work.

7 PhD engineering programmes having the following em-phasis have been consolidated as this administration comes to a close: chemical engineering, electrical engineering, geotechnical engineering, systems engineering and computation, science and technology of materials, mechanical and mechatronics engineering and industry and organisa-tions. The last four represent new programmes created between 2006 and 2012. The Faculty also offers 14 MSc research programmes; it is worth noting that these MSc courses were created during the present administration, emphasising their in-depth nature in line with UNALCO's guidelines for academic reform (University Higher Council Agreement CSU 033/2007). The Faculty also participates in two interfaculty MSc programmes: an MSc in biomedical engineering and an MSc in food science and technology. It is worth noting the Universidad Nacional de Colombia's four engineering faculties' collaborative work regarding national postgraduate programmes where curricula have been developed promoting teacher and student exchanges, as well as running courses, administering programmes and developing joint undergraduate and postgraduate theses.

Considering the advances achieved and the high quality of knowledge and know-how produced, the following step must be focused on scientific and technological diffusion where the faculty's publications and the results of investigation must be prioritised on a worldwide scale, being confirmed by our teachers' increased participation in international scientific journals and in their editorial committees, as well as in materialisation of knowledge and innovation through formulating patents and creating technology-based companies.

DIEGO FERNANDO HERNÁNDEZ LOSADA
Dean
Facultad de Ingeniería
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C.