EURACE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES

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EUR-ACE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES

• Ian Freeston
• EUR-ACE Project
• Steering Committee

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EUR-ACEFramework Standards for the Accreditation
of Engineering Programmes

• Background and context
• Teaching programme outcomes
• Programme assessment procedures
• Accreditation decisions

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EUR-ACE PROJECT AIMS

• To propose a European framework for the
  accreditation of engineering education at First
  and Second Cycles, in order to
• provide a European label
• improve quality of engineering education
• facilitate trans-national recognition
• facilitate recognition by competent authorities
• facilitate mutual recognition agreements.

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FRAMEWORK REQUIREMENTS

• First and second cycles
• All branches of engineering
• Scientific and technical profiles
• Individual educational traditions
• New teaching methods, new branches

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CONTEXT

• BFUG Framework for Qualifications of the
  European Higher Education Area
• JQI Dublin Descriptors
• ENQA Standards and Guidelines for Quality
  Assurance in the EHEA
• NTU Criteria for Academic Bachelors and
  Masters Curricula
• Existing International Accords

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PROGRAMME OUTCOMES

• Knowledge and Understanding
• Engineering Analysis
• Engineering Design
• Investigations
• Engineering Practice
• Transferable Skills

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LEVELS

• Graduates should be able to
• solve engineering problems
• realise engineering designs
• pursue research or other investigations
• consistent with their level of knowledge and
  understanding.

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LEVELS 2

• First Cycle graduates should have coherent
  knowledge of their branch of engineering
  including some at the forefront of the branch.
• Second Cycle graduates should have a critical
  awareness of the forefront of their branch.

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IMPLEMENTING ACCREDITATION

• Accreditation of HEI programmes
• Self assessment document
• Accreditation visit
• Decision
• Metaaccreditation of established agencies

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SELF ASSESSMENT

• Presents evidence of Programme Outcomes
• Could be contained in existing documentation
• Items to be addressed include
• Needs, objectives and outcomes
• Educational process
• Resources and partnerships
• Assessment of the educational process
• Management system

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ACCREDITATION TEAM VISIT

• Accreditation team of two or more qualified
  accreditors
• Typical visit will include
• review of assessed student work
• visits to facilities (laboratories, library, etc)
• meetings with staff and students
• feedback from accreditation team at end of visit
• Draft report sent to HEI for correction of
  factual errors

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ACCREDITATION DECISION

• Accreditation Team reports to the EUR-ACE Board
• Board makes one of three decisions
• Accredited without reservation
• Accredited with prescriptions
• Not accredited
• Decision published

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