In September 2002, the Federal Government of Nigeria lent her support to the commencement of the African Regional Conference on Engineering Education (ARCEE) which took place at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. In the desire to give the conference an identity, a Steering Committee was formed in 2004 at the end of the 2nd ARCEE at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Among other things, the Committee was to decide on an appropriate name under which the African stakeholders in engineering education would meet biennially.

At the end of the 3rd ARCEE, the delegates established African Engineering Education Association (AEEA) as an identity for the conference.

The 4th ARCEE was held in Dar es Salam, Tanzania, in April 2008 with 110 participants from 14 countries within and outside Africa. One of the outcomes of the conference was the launching of Emerald/ALCS African Engineering Research Fund Award.

The research fund is normally awarded to deserving researcher annually after proper appraisal of the research proposal submitted by the prospective awardees. It was further resolved that AEEA should develop a database for all engineering and training institutions in Africa; indicating available capacity and areas of strength with a view to identifying areas where capacity building is required.