Dr. Vea’s commitment and dedication to the advancement of science, engineering and technology education in the country has once again been recognized by the S & T community. Last September 26, 2008 at the Manila Hotel, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), as part of its Golden Jubilee celebrations, honored Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, President and CEO of the Mapua Institute of Technology, as one of the outstanding “50 Men & Women of Science.” in the category of Science Education. Also recognized in the event are five other prominent educators: Fr Bienvenido Nebres, S.J. President of Ateneo De Manila University; Dr. Paulino Tan, President of Asia Pacific College; Dr. Milagros Ibe, Vice-President for Academic Affairs of Miriam College, Dr. Dolores Hernandez, former Director of UP-NISMED and Dr. Josette Biyo, Director of Philippine Science High School Iloilo Campus.

Dr. Vea was given the award for having led the UP College of Engineering and the Mapua Institute of Technology in elevating academic standards; for having chaired CHED’s Technical Panel on Engineering, Architecture and Maritime Education (TPEAME) towards the issuance of Enriched Guidelines, Policies and Standards (EGPS) in 1997; for having helped administer the Engineering & Science Education Project (ESEP) in the 1990’s; for having led in the creation of the National Graduate School of Engineering (NGSE) in 1997, which now serves as a major vehicle for the ongoing Engineering Research & Development for Technology (ERDT) Consortium; for having taken the initiative in the ongoing efforts to gain Philippine membership in the Washington Accord; and for being presently Chairman of the Science, Mathematics and Engineering (SME) Panel of the Congressional Commission on Science & Technology, Mathematics and Engineering (COMSTE).

Dr. Vea was the President of the Association for Engineering Education in Southeast Asia and the Pacific (AEESEAP) from August 1997 to January 2000. In 2005 he became a Founding Fellow and Founding Executive Council Member of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET).