Purpose: We present the state of the art of industrial engineering higher education in the European area and we describe the submitted works to the special issue “Rethinking Industrial Engineering Higher Education in the European Area (EHEA)”. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper we collect the information published on industrial engineering higher education and the information provided by papers presented in the special issue. Findings: The methodologies and approaches performed by the people teaching. Research limitations/implications: Professors of the European area could take profit of the information provided in this paper. Practical implications: Other lecturers could use the information provided in this paper to know more teaching methodologies or to enhance their educational methods.