1

Committee on Global Accreditation Activities

EAB Meeting – item 8

Moshe Kam, Chair CGAA

New Brunswick, NJ – 15 November 2008

2

CGAA: Mission and Scope

To identify and meet the accreditation needs of the profession, by assisting in the establishment, operation, development and implementation of accrediting bodies and accreditation procedures in engineering, computing and technology (ECT) worldwide.

To coordinate transnational accreditation activities on behalf of the IEEE, including assistance to existing accrediting bodies, development of new accrediting bodies, and education about ECT accreditation.

3

2008 Members Name Section Region Role

Moshe Kam Philadelphia 2 Chair

Enrique Alvarez Peru 9 Member

Ernesto Cuadros-Vargas

Peru 9 Member

Chandrabhan Sharma

Trinidad and Tobago

9 Member

Eric Tappert Lehigh Valley 2 APC Chair

Matej Zajc Slovenia 8 Member

Xiaoxun Zhu Xi’an 10 Member

4

Where do we operate now?

China: “Working Group on Education in China”

First meeting: November 2006

Peru: ICACIT

The Caribbean: new accrediting body for programs taught in English

T&T: West Indies University

5

International Accreditation: China

In 2006 we established an accreditation working group in China

Face-to-face meeting in November 2006

2007 Activities A major workshop on engineering

accreditation in cooperation with CAST A translation of ABET accreditation materials into

Chinese was completed by EAB Meetings with decision makers in various ministries

6

2007 Workshop (Beijing)

40 attendees

Most are program evaluators in training

IEEE: Bruce Eisenstein, Michael Lightner, Moshe Kam

Engineers Ireland: Don McCloy

Meetings at the Ministries of Personnel, Construction and Education

7

Ministry of Education Beijing 2007

8

9

Beijing 2007

Bruce Eisenstein speaks

Note the Engineers Ireland Logo

10

2008 Activities

An accreditation workshop with CAST and the PRC Ministry of Education

Beijing, 22 March 2008

240 attendees All fields of engineering

A 4-hour event narrated by M. Lightner and M. Kam

11

Key observations from the 2008 workshop

Attendees wanted to know how the ABET system works

…but also what elements are difficult, expensive, time consuming

Concern about the volume of work associated with ABET-style accreditation visits

Desire to examine models that are not purely outcome based

12

Post-workshop requests CAST requested that we help

Chinese program evaluators observe ABET visits in 2008 We coordinated the effort with ABET Visits take place during Fall 2008

We do not expect major activities in China in 2009 unless our volunteers there request to

renew the “bottom up” pilot plan

13

General observations on our activities in China

We were successful in establishing our credentials with the Chinese authorities

Excellent relationships with CAST Probably the closest relationship of CAST with a non-

Chinese association Good relationships with other entities involved Our workshops have been an “eye opener” to many

decision makers in China

We have been less successful in energizing our volunteers in China

This is a concern that we need to address

14

International Accreditation: Peru

IEEE is providing on-going assistance to the Peruvian accrediting body ICACIT

ICACIT was formed in the early 2000s

In December 2006 we have provided the first non-US EAB training for program evaluators in Peru

Instructional material developed Mario Gonzalez prepared and delivered

We provided a complete translation of ABET materials into Spanish

We are also maintaining a website for ICACIT

15

Training session for Peruvian program evaluators, December 2006

Lima, December 2006

16

Activities in Peru in 2007

First Draft of the governance documents and structure of ICACIT

A second training workshop for program evaluators in Arequipa

Mario Gonzalez prepared and delivered

Planning with the leadership of ICACIT toward the first independent visit

17

Arequipa, December 2007

18

Arequipa, December 2007

19

Activities Planned for 2008 (original)

Accreditation manuals Engineering, Technology, Computing

Appointment of 20 Program Evaluators

Staffing of the accreditation committees

The first series of independent accreditation visits by ICACIT should take place in 2009

20

Actual Developments

ICACIT is seeking a series of joint accreditation visits with ABET Extensive correspondence and meetings

between ICACIT and ABET

Under these circumstances additional EAB activities appear unnecessary at the present time Future ICACIT-related activities will await

requests from the Peru Section

21

Caribbean Accreditation Council for Engineering and Technology

22

Scope

English speaking Caribbean

An effort requiring 3-6 years and the consent and participation of all major

constituencies

A collaboration of… Academic institutions and the faculty Industry, especially employers of engineers and

technologists Governmental bodies and regulators

23

Desired Final Outcome

A fully functional stable accrediting body operating wherever there is a higher education institute in the Caribbean

Membership of the accrediting body in the Washington Accord

24

Activities so far

Preliminary review of goals and desired outcomes

April 2007, UWI, Trinidad

Meeting of representatives from the English-speaking Caribbean

September 2007, Trinidad

Stakeholder meeting 7-8 April 2008, Puerto Rico

25

CACET’s Founding Meeting (1)

On 7-8 April 2008, San Juan PR

Hosted by IEEE Educational Activities Board (EAB)

Name of the accrediting agency Caribbean Accreditation Council for Engineering and Technology (CACET)

26

CACET’s Founding Meeting (2)

Twenty seven (27) leaders of governmental accrediting agencies, licensing bodies, universities, and professional associations

Representing seven (7) English-speaking

countries in the Caribbean

A joint declaration establishing the Council as part of CARICOM.

IEEE was represented by Moshe Kam, Chandrabhan Sharma, and Pedro Ray

27

CACET met in Guyana in October 2008

Meetings with the Prime Minister of Guyana and the General Secretary of CARICOM

Main achievement: CARICOM is willing to treat CACET in the

same way it treats the new accrediting body for Medicine in the Caribbean

Requested CACET input on model law on Engineering registration

October 2008 meetings with CARICOM and the Government of Guyana

28

Meeting with PM Sam Hinds

29

The Road Ahead CACET will be housed in Trinidad until

discussions with CARICOM are completed

In 2009 EAB will continue supporting meetings …and, if needed, observers/visitors in

CACET accreditation visits

We will probably have a March 2009 meeting including PEV training Dependent on the timetable of

accreditation documents

30

What else will we do in 2009? Explore assistance to volunteers in Thailand

Explore proposals for regional accreditation bodies in South America and parts of Africa

Workshop on trends in accreditation Third quarter, in Region 8

Promote Accreditation Policy and FPD in Engineering Policy to members of accrediting bodies worldwide

31

Accreditation.org

32

The New Portal on Accreditation (1)

Explanation of accreditation, the accreditation process, basic terminology

A list with links to all recognized accrediting bodies in the world

Including the program they accredit When applicable, a search capability tied with

TryEngineering

www.Accreditation.org

33

The New Portal on Accreditation (2)

Mutual recognition agreements Who has signed them Full text Common interpretation What does this agreement mean to you?

Selected bibliography

www.Accreditation.org

34

35

Questions or Comments