accreditation system of the hong kong institution of engineers (hkie) by ir kenneth hsu

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers 香港工程師學會11

Accreditation System of

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE)

by

Ir Kenneth HSU

Chairman of HKIE Accreditation Board


Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

Founding of

Engineering Society

of Hong Kong

Founding of

Engineering Society

of Hong Kong

Incorporated by Law

as the Hong Kong

Institution of Engineers

Incorporated by Law

as the Hong Kong

Institution of Engineers

Verified as a full

signatory to the

Washington Accord

Verified as a full

signatory to the

Washington Accord

Verified as a fullsignatory to theSydney Accord

Verified as a fullsignatory to theSydney Accord

1947194719471947 1975197519751975 1995199519951995 1997199719971997 2001200120012001 2003200320032003

Admitted to the

Washington Accord

Admitted to the

Washington AccordAdmitted to theSydney AccordAdmitted to theSydney Accord


International Recognition

(1) Washington Accord – Engineering Degrees

(2) Sydney Accord – Engineering Higher Diplomas and Associate Degrees (including computing Higher Diploma/ Associate Degree programmes)


In June 1995, the Institution joined the Washington Accord as one of the signatories. Engineering degrees accredited by the HKIE are recognised by all other signatories which include the following:

S. AfricaAustralia

Canada

Hong Kong

Japan

Malaysia *Singapore

New Zealand

IrelandUK

USA

Germany *

Washington AccordWashington Accord

KoreaChinese Taipei

* Provisional Member

Russia *

India *

Sri Lanka *


Sydney AccordSydney Accord

S. AfricaAustralia

Canada

Hong Kong

New Zealand

Ireland

In June 2003, the Institution was verified as a full signatory to the Sydney Accord. Higher Diplomas and Associate Degrees accredited by the HKIE are recognised by all other signatories which include the following:

UK

USA *

* Provisional Member


Accreditation System

(1) Organization Structure

COUNCIL

Accreditation Board

Accreditation of engineering degrees and generic policies

setting

Accreditation Committee for Higher Diploma Programmes

Accreditation Committee for Computer

Science Programmes

Accreditation of Computer Science Degrees

Accreditation of Higher Diplomas & Associate

Degrees


Accreditation System (Cont.)

Example : Composition of Accreditation Board

Composition of the Accreditation Board

Local Member - 16

Overseas Members - up to 4

• Appointment of Board Members takes into account a balance between disciplines, academic and practicing engineers, and expertise in accreditation.

• Each appointment duration is 5 years.


Aims and Objectives of the Engineering Programme

Syllabus and Curriculum Requirements

(2) Accreditation Criteria

The curriculum for engineering degree programmes would normally be expected to contain the following main components:

16% Mathematics

60% Engineering Subjects

20% Complementary Studies


Accreditation Criteria (Cont.)

Mathematics Emphasize mathematical concepts and

principles, with numerical analysis and applications

Engineering Subjects Engineering Science

Engineering Design and Synthesis

Laboratory and Field Work

Computing

Project Work


Complementary Studies Management, economics, law, finance,

languages, humanities, social sciences etc


Academic Staff Quality, commitment and credentials

Research activities

Professional involvement

Continuing professional development and training


Minimum entrance requirements and actual intake qualifications

Selection criteria

Enthusiasm for and perception of the programme

Utilization of programme facilities

Performance in examinations and projects

Accreditation Criteria

Students


Resources and Facilities

Funding

Administrative and related support

Provision of various infrastructure resources

Fund for equipment upgrade and maintenance



Assessment & Quality Assurance

Effectiveness of assessment programme to measure the performance of students

Grading of course work and feedback to students

In-house quality assurance system

Independent external examiner or other system to maintain the academic standard of programmes

13

Accreditation Criteria


(3) The Accreditation Process

University invites the Accreditation Board to carry out an accreditation exercise

Appointment of a Visiting Team Chairman and Team Members from an Accreditation Panel (database)

A single discipline Visiting Team is typically made up of 4 members (Chairman + 3 members)

For Faculty based visits, each team shall consist of a Team Chairman and for each programme being assessed, not less than two members in each sub-team


(3) The Accreditation Process (Cont.)

Appointment of the Visiting Team

Approximately equal number of academics and non-academics

Must be experienced in the discipline

Adequate accreditation experience

No conflict of interest

The university may raise objection to a team member if there is a conflict of interest


The Assessor shall

be a member of the Board

join the accreditation visit as an observer

in consultation with the Visiting Team Chairman make recommendations to the Board for an

accreditation decision

carry the role in ensuring consistency of recommendations



Pre-Accreditation Visit Programme documentation prepared by the university are

sent to the Assessor and all Team Members

Documentation are studied and additional information may be requested from the university, if required

Team Members and Assessor hold pre-visit meeting(s)

refresh on accreditation criteria

review/discuss documentation & correspondence

identify areas of concern/focus



Time

Sample Accreditation Visit Schedule

9:00am

Monday Tuesday Wednesday

Meet with Dean, Head and key staff Meet with President, Dean and Head

Review of student work e.g. assignments examination question papers and answer scripts, lab reports etc.

Meet with staff responsible for major elements of the programmes

10:00

Private team meeting and Executive Summary SessionPrivate team meeting12:00

Lunch with staff, advisory board members and employers Lunch1:00 pm

Meet with students and recent graduates2:00

Visit to Department facilities (laboratories, Computer facilities etc)3:00

5:00

7:008:009:00

- ditto -Visit to University facilities (e.g Library, Language Centre)

- ditto -- ditto -11:00

4:00

6:00 Pre-Visit Team Meeting

- ditto -

- ditto -


- ditto -

- ditto -

Reserved for further accreditation activities of visiting team

- ditto -


Post-Accreditation Visit

Preparation of Visiting Team Report by the Team Chairman and Team Members

Forward Visiting Team Report to university for response

University forwards response on the Visiting Team Report to the Visiting Team and the Assessor

The Assessor and the Visiting Team Chairman prepare accreditation decision recommendation to the Accreditation Board for consideration



(4) Accreditation Decision

The Accreditation Board Decision

Board members declare their interest and in some cases, the Board members concerned may be asked to excuse themselves.

The Visiting Team Chairman presents the Visiting Team Report to the Board

The University presents a summary of the programme and response to the Visiting Team Report

Questioning by Board members

The Assessor presents accreditation decision recommendation to the Board for discussion

The Board renders accreditation decision

The Board Deputy Chairman reviews decision for consistency. The Board finalizes decision


(4) Accreditation Decision (Cont.)

Provisional Accreditation -- for developing (new) programmes not yet have any graduates. It indicates that the programme is well structured and has a good chance of receiving full accreditation in the future

Full Accreditation -- may be granted, with or without conditions, for a maximum period of up to five years to programmes with graduates

Accreditation Refused or Withdrawn -- if the programme is seriously at variance with the criteria


(4) Accreditation Decision (Cont.)

An accreditation term may be less than five years:

to bring the accreditation period of a programme in line with the accreditation cycle of other programmes within a faculty/department; or

although the programme conforms to the HKIE accreditation criteria, the Board is not completely satisfied with some aspects of the programme and wishes to see certain conditions met.

– an initial accreditation period of 2 or 3 years may be granted and the university will take action to meet the stipulated conditions. Accreditation period may be extended for a further 3 or 2 years upon receiving a satisfactory report.

– the Board will determine if a written report (evidence) from the university, or if a revisit will be necessary.


Input-Based Accreditation

Traditional educational practices focus on "inputs" or “activities”.

Students are exposed to a segment of the curriculum over a specified time.

At the end of the specified period, an examination is given, and grades are assigned.

Whether all students have attained the level of competency (attributes) expected is not emphasized.


Outcome-Based Accreditation

Outcome-based education is the recent generation of educational practices that has been adopted by institutions in many developed countries.

An outcome-based programme specifies the "outcomes" students should be able to demonstrate upon graduation.

It focuses on educational experiences that will develop the desired attributes of students and graduates (e.g. design capabilities, engineering knowledge, communication skills etc.)



Outcome-based education goes beyond ‘structured tasks’ (e.g. memorization, classroom exams).

Students are required to demonstrate their skills through more challenging tasks such as writing proposals, completing projects, analyzing case studies, preparing case presentations etc.

Design curriculum backward by focusing on the major desired outcomes (attributes) and linking teaching and assessment decisions to these outcomes.



HKIE has taken a decision to migrate to an outcome-based model of accreditation.

The revised accreditation criteria, including the desired attributes of graduates, has been approved by the Accreditation Board.

Aim to finalize all documentation by 2009, ahead of the delivery of the new 4-year undergraduate programs in 2012.



Tentative Timetable: 2010 and 2011 will be transition years. During this period and at the discretion of the university, a new 3-year undergraduate programme may be submitted for accreditation either under the existing HKIE criteria or the new outcome-based criteria.

Full implementation of the new Outcome-based accreditation criteria in 2012 for all of the new 4-year undergraduate programmes.


Thank You !

accreditation system of the hong kong institution of engineers (hkie) by ir kenneth hsu

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