Edward F. Crawley is the Ford Professor of Engineering at MIT and a renowned expert in systems engineering, innovation, and higher education leadership. He brings decades of global experience to the Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center, where he serves as Senior Advisor.
From 2011 to 2016, Professor Crawley was the founding president of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow—a groundbreaking university dedicated to advancing science, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Prior to this, he led the Bernard M. Gordon–MIT Engineering Leadership Program, an initiative focused on strengthening engineering leadership to drive innovation and global competitiveness.
Between 2003 and 2006, he served as Executive Director of the Cambridge–MIT Institute, a joint venture with the University of Cambridge funded by the British government and industry. In this role, he worked closely with UK policymakers to explore how universities can serve as engines of innovation and economic growth.
Earlier in his career, Professor Crawley headed the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT, leading a strategic realignment of the department. In April 2020, he was appointed the Founding Interim Provost of the Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center.
A thought leader in systems thinking and education, Professor Crawley has co-authored several influential books, including Rethinking Engineering Education: The CDIO Approach (2007), System Architecture: Strategy and Product Development for Complex Systems (2015), and Universities as Engines of Economic Development (2020).