1 committee on global accreditation activities 21 june 2008 moshe kam, chair cgaa denver, colorado
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Post-workshop requests
CAST requested that we help Chinese program evaluators observe ABET visits in 2008 We coordinated the effort with ABET Visits expected Fall 2008
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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
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Action Item
ACTION: Xiaoxun Zhu to contact WGEC leaders to see how we can continue the volunteer effort
ACTION: Xiaoxun Zhu to contact Shanghai Section to assess interest
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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
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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
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Activities Planned for 2008
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
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Action Items
ACTION: Sharon Strock to send updated translations of the ABET PEV Criteria for the 2008-2009 to Enrique Alvarez, Ernesto Cuadros-Vargas and Corali Ferrer Rodriguez so they can examine the documents for correctness
ACTION: Moshe Kam to convene a small group to address computing program terminology in South America
ACTION: Enrique Alvarez and Moshe Kam to discuss the possibility of establishing a multi-national accreditation council in South America
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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Current status
CACET is waiting to become a recognized body with a budget from CARICOM
In the meantime CACET will be housed in Trinidad
In 2008-2009 EAB will continue supporting meetings and, if needed, observers/visitors in CACET accreditation visits
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Action Items
ACTION: Chandrabhan Sharma to organize a group of key CACET members to discuss the next steps for CACET (October 2008 in Guyana)
Topics to include: timeline and administrative structure; composition of visiting groups
ACTION: EAB and CACET to organize additional meetings in March 2009 and late 2009
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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
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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
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Additional Action Items
Promotion of Accreditation.org and addition of references
Planning of a 2009 workshop on accreditation
Location convenient for new programs in the Middle East
Promotion of Accreditation Policy and FPD in Engineering Policy to members of accrediting bodies worldwide
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Even More Action Items…
Letter to Regions 8 and 10 concerning what IEEE can offer in the area of accreditation
Preliminary examination of potential EAB activities at the university level in
Thailand (accreditation) Malawi and Swaziland Vietnam (program building)