IHEQN Conference October 2006 IHEQN “AND NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET”? CASE STUDY OF...

IHEQN Conference October 2006

IHEQN“AND NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET”?

CASE STUDY OF COLLABORATION 1.

Engineers Ireland and University College Cork

Denis McGrathRegistrar

Engineers Ireland



Accreditation Criteria 1983

Input-based

– Entry Standards

– Curriculum Content

– Laboratory Facilities

– External Examiners’ Reports



Development of Outcomes-based Accreditation Criteria - 2001

Context

• ABET move towards Programme Outcomes

• National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland – 10 Levels

• Reorganisation of university programmes – heavy emphasis on

learning outcomes

• Standards for awards in institutes of technology



Background ResearchAccreditation Criteria of other organisations

• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (USA) (ABET)

• Engineering Council (UK) (ECUK)

• Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)

• Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ)

• Engineers Australia (IEAust)

• Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE)

• Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE)

• The Engineering Professors’ Council (UK) (EPC)

• Quality Assurance Agency (UK) (QAA)



Development of Accreditation Criteria

• Accreditation Board Working Group

• 2 Years Preparation / Consultation



Accreditation Criteria 2003 Ethos

• Guidelines on inputs such as entry standard,

curriculum content, staffing, laboratories.

• Prescribed Programme Outcomes.



Accreditation Criteria 2003Programme Outcomes

a) The ability to derive and apply solutions from a knowledge

of sciences, engineering sciences, technology and

mathematics;

b) The ability to identify, formulate, analyse and solve

engineering problems;




c) The ability to design a system, component or process to meet

specified needs, to design and conduct experiments and to

analyse and interpret data;

d) An understanding of the need for high ethical standards in the

practice of engineering, including the responsibilities of the

engineering profession towards people and the environment;




e) The ability to work effectively as an individual, in teams

and in multi-disciplinary settings together with the

capacity to undertake lifelong learning;

f) The ability to communicate effectively with the

engineering community and with society at large.



Accreditation Criteria 2003Programme Areas

• Sciences and Mathematics

• Discipline-specific Technology

• Information and Communications Technology

• Design and Development

• Engineering Practice

• Social and Business Context




Programme Area Descriptors

Describe how the learning outcomes of modules

in Programme Areas contribute to Programme

Outcomes.




Sum of Learning Outcomes

Programme Outcomes




Process of Implementation

• ABET Assessor Training Course,

Washington DC

• Briefings for academic staff in colleges

• Training of Assessors



Accreditation Visit to College Visiting Panel

• Accreditation Panel Chairman

• Registrar – Engineers Ireland

• Programme Panel for each degree programme

- Panel Chairman

- Two Assessors, one is Rapporteur

Note: One member of Programme Panel from industry if possible



Accreditation Visit to CollegePre-visit Activities

• Final year projects evaluated for achievement

of Programme Outcomes – (one assessor)

• Laboratory facilities evaluated – (other

assessor)

• Initial views on documentation sent to

university.



Accreditation Visit to College Agenda – Day One

1. 11.00am - Accreditation Panel assembles at university

2. Plenary Meeting between Accreditation Panel and senior Academic Staff

to include 15 minute presentation by university, on programmes for

accreditation

3. 11.30am - Private Plenary Meeting of Accreditation Panel to brief

Programme Panels

4. 12 noon - Parallel meetings of Programme Panels and academic staff in

separate rooms, commencing with 15 minute presentation on each

programme

1.00pm - Buffet Lunch – Accreditation Panel & Staff



Accreditation Visit to CollegeAgenda – Day One (cont’d)

5. 2.00pm - Parallel sessions in separate “evidence” rooms, of Programme

Panels, to include:

• Meeting to discuss panel views on documentation and pre-visit data

• Evaluation of “evidence” of achievement of Programme Outcomes

– Examination questions and answer books (scripts) for all years of each programme in

previous year

– Laboratory Reports / Note Books

– Project Work

– Final Year Projects

– Other relevant material (if applicable)

• Meeting to discuss mid-point findings to date



Accreditation Visit to CollegeAgenda – Day One (cont’d)

6. 5.15pm - Private Plenary Meeting of Accreditation Panel

to discuss mid-point findings of each Programme Panel

7. 6.00pm - Conclusion of Day One

7.30pm - Dinner with Accreditation Panel and Academic Staff



Accreditation Visit to College Agenda – Day Two

8. 8.45am - Private Plenary Meeting of Accreditation Panel

9. 9.15am - Plenary meeting between Accreditation Panel and

selected Academic Staff to discuss matters generally common to

each programme

10.45am - Coffee

10. 11.15am - Parallel meetings of Programme Panels with Academic

Staff to discuss separately (separate rooms) achievement of

Programme Outcomes for each Programme

1.00pm - Buffet Lunch – Accreditation Panel and Staff



Accreditation Visit to CollegeAgenda – Day Two (cont’d)

11. 2.00pm - Parallel separate discussions on how Programme

Outcomes are being reached on each Programme Panel between

each panel and

a) Final Year Students on each Programme

b) Previous Graduates of each Programme

c) Employers who have employed numbers of recent graduates

from each Programme

12. 3.45pm - Private Parallel Meetings of Programme Panels to

discuss findings in respect of each Programme




13. 4.45pm - Plenary Meeting of Accreditation Panel to

finalise a consistent set of findings in respect of each

programme Deficits (if any)

identified

– Conditions

– Recommendations

– Features and Strengths




14. 5.45pm - Concluding Meeting – Accreditation

Panel Chairman / Programme Panel Chairman

explains findings in respect of each programme,

to senior academic staff

15. 6.30pm - End of Visit



Accreditation PanelEvaluation and Report

• Findings and Recommendations on

Accreditation disclosed

• 5 years, 3 years, < 3 years

• Clarification given

• Conclusion of Visit



Accreditation PanelEvaluation and Report

• Recommendation to Accreditation Board

• Executive Committee of Council

• Final decision / final report to college

• Presentation of Parchment



Washington Accord Signatories

Australia New Zealand

Canada Singapore

Hong Kong South Africa

Ireland UK

Japan USA



Washington Accord Benefits

• Mutual acceptance of accreditation

decisions

• Substantial equivalence of degree

programmes



Washington Accord Benefits

• Biennial General Assembly

• Biennial Workshops

• Establishment of Permanent Secretariat



IHEQN“AND NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET”?

CASE STUDY OF COLLABORATION 1.

Engineers Ireland and University College Cork

Denis McGrathRegistrar

Engineers Ireland


IHEQN Conference October 2006 IHEQN “AND NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET”? CASE STUDY OF...

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