IEEE Collabratec Reaches 100,000 Member Milestone

IEEE Collabratec reached a milestone in August: more than 100,000 IEEE members (plus 250,000 nonmembers) on the online networking platform. To commemorate the achievement, IEEE released a 100,000-member badge for users.

The badges recognize members for their participation in IEEE Collabratec’s communities and discussion forums. They also reward users for creating networks with other IEEE members and solving IEEE Puzzlers brainteasers.

“Since 2021 IEEE Collabratec has been a game-changer in my membership journey,” IEEE Member Jaramogi Khalfani Adofo Odhiambo says. He is a member of the IEEE Uganda Section. “I connect with fellow volunteers around the world and have found mentorship and support for personal growth.

“Collabratec is more than a network; it’s a vibrant community that celebrates learning, leadership, and collaboration.”

The platform was launched in 2015 to help members stay connected with the organization and local sections.

Rolling out new features

Since its debut, IEEE Collabratec has introduced new features. Here are some recent additions:

• The IEEE Puzzlers community, which premiered in 2021, offers a fun, engaging experience for those who enjoy solving brainteasers such as missing numbers and logic games. There are different levels of difficulty. People who correctly solve the puzzles receive badges and recognition on the website. There are several types of badges, based on how many puzzles users solve. A badge is awarded when participants solve 7, 15, 30, 50, and 75 puzzles. Seventeen community participants from seven countries currently have the highest level badge, which is awarded for solving 555.
• The IEEE Mentoring Program pairs mentors with members who are seeking guidance on topics such as their career, education, leadership, volunteering, or a particular technical field. The program, created in 2023, is open to IEEE members of any grade. Anyone can be a mentor, whether they’re a student or a seasoned professional. As of July, about 3,700 members have signed up to guide others, a 25 percent increase since last year. There are about 1,300 mentor-mentee pairings now, with IEEE senior members representing half of the mentors. A new community dedicated to mentoring is scheduled to debut this year.
• To better reflect members’ IEEE contributions, such as leading a committee or organizing an event, digital certificates are offered for volunteering. Each individualized document includes the person’s name, the position they held, and the years served. Every position held has its own certificate. A member’s list of roles is updated annually. Users can download the certificates and add them to their LinkedIn profile or résumé. Certificates also may be printed for displaying.

“IEEE Collabratec has served as a truly unifying force across our global technical community—bridging disciplines, geographies, and generations,” IEEE Life Fellow Fredrick Mintzer says. Mintzer, recipient of the 2022 IEEE Emberson Award, is a frequent Collabratec contributor. “For a decade, Collabratec has embodied the One IEEE philosophy by fostering collaboration and empowering members and nonmembers alike to connect, contribute, discuss, debate, and grow together.”

To learn more about IEEE Collabratec, check out the user guide, FAQs, and users’ forum.