Accreditation System of

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Accreditation System of The Hong Kong
Institution of Engineers (HKIE) by Ir Kenneth
HSU Chairman of HKIE Accreditation Board
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Historical Background
1975
1997
2001
2003
1947
1995
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International Recognition

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

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Washington Accord
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
Russia
Canada
UK
Germany
Ireland
Japan
USA
Korea
Chinese Taipei
India
Hong Kong
Malaysia
Sri Lanka
Singapore
S. Africa
Australia
New Zealand
Provisional Member
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Sydney Accord
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
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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 Higher Diplomas Associate
Degrees
Accreditation of Computer Science Degrees
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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.

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(2) Accreditation Criteria

• Aims and Objectives of the Engineering
  Programme
• Syllabus and Curriculum Requirements

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

• 16 Mathematics
• 60 Engineering Subjects
• 20 Complementary Studies

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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

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Accreditation Criteria (Cont.)

• 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

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Accreditation Criteria

• Students

• 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

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Accreditation Criteria (Cont.)

• Resources and Facilities

• Funding
• Administrative and related support
• Provision of various infrastructure resources
• Fund for equipment upgrade and maintenance

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Accreditation Criteria

• 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

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(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

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(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

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(3) The Accreditation Process (Cont.)

• 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

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(3) The Accreditation Process (Cont.)

• 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

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(3) The Accreditation Process (Cont.)
Sample Accreditation Visit Schedule
Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
900am
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
1000
- ditto -
- ditto -
1100
Private team meeting and Executive Summary Session
Private team meeting
1200
Lunch with staff, advisory board members and
employers
100 pm
Lunch
Meet with students and recent graduates
200
Visit to Department facilities (laboratories,
Computer facilities etc)
Reserved for further accreditation activities of
visiting team
300
400
- ditto -
- ditto -
Visit to University facilities (e.g Library,
Language Centre)
500
- ditto -
Pre-Visit Team Meeting
600
- ditto -
- ditto -
700
- ditto -
800
900
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(3) The Accreditation Process (Cont.)

• 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

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(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

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(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
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(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.

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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.

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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.)

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Outcome-Based Accreditation

• 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.

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Outcome-Based Accreditation

• 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.

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Outcome-Based Accreditation

• 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.

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Thank You !