Accreditation of Engineering Education: Review, Observations and Proposal for Global Accreditation

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Accreditation of Engineering Education: Review, Observations and Proposal for Global Accreditation
Language: English
Authors: Patil, A., Codner, G.
Source: European Journal of Engineering Education. Dec 2007 32(6):639-651.
Availability: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2007
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Engineering Education, Graduates, Engineering, Accreditation (Institutions), Educational Quality, Occupational Mobility, Global Approach, Models, Job Skills, Evaluation Methods
DOI: 10.1080/03043790701520594
ISSN: 0304-3797
Abstract: In engineering education, the accreditation and assessment of academic programmes is vital in order to maintain the quality and the status of engineering graduates, and hence the technical workforce. Results of a survey of the relevant literature and observations indicate that various accreditation models have been developed regionally, as well as internationally but most of these models seem to be non-uniform, too complex, non-transparent and, moreover, non-precise. This leads to confusion and growing concerns about the mutual recognition and global mobility of the engineering profession. As a result, there is an urgent need for a systematic global model of engineering accreditation that can be used to assess global professional skills and attributes of engineering graduates. The aim of the current paper is to present a brief review of existing accreditation systems implemented in engineering education worldwide as well as to describe the methodology for developing a global accreditation model in engineering education. Various existing accreditation models in engineering education are briefly discussed in this paper and the strengths and weaknesses of these models are outlined and presented. The need for the global accreditation model has been justified and the methodology for the development of the model is outlined with its advantages listed in the paper. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 33
Entry Date: 2009
Accession Number: EJ828306
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:In engineering education, the accreditation and assessment of academic programmes is vital in order to maintain the quality and the status of engineering graduates, and hence the technical workforce. Results of a survey of the relevant literature and observations indicate that various accreditation models have been developed regionally, as well as internationally but most of these models seem to be non-uniform, too complex, non-transparent and, moreover, non-precise. This leads to confusion and growing concerns about the mutual recognition and global mobility of the engineering profession. As a result, there is an urgent need for a systematic global model of engineering accreditation that can be used to assess global professional skills and attributes of engineering graduates. The aim of the current paper is to present a brief review of existing accreditation systems implemented in engineering education worldwide as well as to describe the methodology for developing a global accreditation model in engineering education. Various existing accreditation models in engineering education are briefly discussed in this paper and the strengths and weaknesses of these models are outlined and presented. The need for the global accreditation model has been justified and the methodology for the development of the model is outlined with its advantages listed in the paper. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)
ISSN:0304-3797
DOI:10.1080/03043790701520594