Outcome-Based Approach Outcome-Based Approach to Engineering Educationto Engineering Education

B.Eng. (Hons) Electronics majoring in Computer

Dr. Ian Chai, Program CoordinatorLing Huo Chong, Assistant Program Coordinator

OUTCOMES OF THIS PRESENTATION

After this presentation, the participants shall:

• be more aware of what EAC is looking for during an accreditation exercise/visit

• be more aware of his/her roles and contributions in OBE

EACEAC AccreditationAccreditation OBEOBE Programme Educational ObjectivesProgramme Educational Objectives Programme OutcomesProgramme Outcomes Example Subject Objective & OutcomesExample Subject Objective & Outcomes

OUTLINE OF THIS PRESENTATION

What Is EAC?

Engineering Accreditation Council

• Formed in 2000 Previous accreditation for engineering programs : PSD (1957) IEM (1959) BEM (1967) LAN(1996) / MQA(2007)

IEM

PSD

BEM

MQA

EACEAC

What Is EAC?

Engineering Accreditation Council • Formulates and updates accreditation policies and Formulates and updates accreditation policies and

criteriacriteria• Approves guidelines and operating proceduresApproves guidelines and operating procedures

• Oversees operational arrangements and appoints Oversees operational arrangements and appoints evaluation panelevaluation panel

• Receives evaluation reports and decides on Receives evaluation reports and decides on accreditationaccreditation

• Responds to complaints, appeals or any proposals Responds to complaints, appeals or any proposals for changefor change

• Oversees development and operation of accreditation and Oversees development and operation of accreditation and mutual recognition agreement with other countriesmutual recognition agreement with other countries

• Fosters the dissemination of developments and best Fosters the dissemination of developments and best practices in engineering educationpractices in engineering education

Why Need Accreditation?

Governed by Governed by the REGISTRATION OF the REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS ACT 1967 (Revised 2002)ENGINEERS ACT 1967 (Revised 2002)

• No person is allowed to practice unless he is a professional engineer

• Professional engineer may use “Ir” before his name OR “PEng” after his name

• Graduate engineers to register before taking up employment as an engineer

Why Need Accreditation?

• graduate engineers to register before taking up employment as an engineer

Those who has successfully completed an accredited engineering programme

Professional Engineer - a graduate engineer who has obtained the prescribed practical experience, passed the Professional Assessment Examination, and satisfied all other requirements of the Board of Engineers (BEM)

Why Need Accreditation?

• The Washington Accord (WA): Agreement that establishes equivalence of other countries’ accredited professional engineering programs.

International Mobility (Washington Accord)International Mobility (Washington Accord)

• Accredited Engineering Graduates are recognized by other signatory countries - Possible employment as engineers in those countries without further examinations.

Why Need Accreditation?

International Mobility (Washington Accord)International Mobility (Washington Accord)

• Established in 1989, as of 2007, the following countries are full members of WA: Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, the UK and the USA.

• The following countries are provisional members of the WA and may become a full member in the future: Germany, India, Malaysia (since 2003), Russia, Sri Lanka.

Why Need Accreditation?

Our last accreditation was in 2003 for 5-years

Next accreditation visit will be in July 2009

- for intakes of 2005 & onwards

Programmes to be accredited in 2009 Programmes to be accredited in 2009 will have to be based on OBE!will have to be based on OBE!

Our programme has been accredited before, so what’s the big deal?

NONO OBE =OBE = NONO ACCREDITATIONACCREDITATION

Academic CurriculumAcademic Curriculum

StudentsStudents

Academic and Supporting StaffAcademic and Supporting Staff

FacilitiesFacilities

Quality Management SystemQuality Management System

EAC Accreditation Criteria

Academic StaffAcademic Staff Academic qualificationsAcademic qualifications Professional qualification, experience & Professional qualification, experience &

developmentdevelopment Research/publication/consultancyResearch/publication/consultancy Industrial involvementIndustrial involvement Teaching load/contact hoursTeaching load/contact hours Motivation and enthusiasmMotivation and enthusiasm Use of lecturers from industry/public bodiesUse of lecturers from industry/public bodies Aware and practice of OBEAware and practice of OBE

EAC Accreditation Criteria

Provides students with a learning environment with little Provides students with a learning environment with little attention to whether or not students ever learn the attention to whether or not students ever learn the material.material.

Students are given grades and rankings compared to Students are given grades and rankings compared to each other – students become each other – students become exam orientedexam oriented or or CGPA CGPA drivendriven..

Graduates are not completely prepared for the Graduates are not completely prepared for the workforce.workforce.

Lack of emphasis on soft skills needed in jobs e.g. Lack of emphasis on soft skills needed in jobs e.g. communication skills, interpersonal skills, analytical communication skills, interpersonal skills, analytical skills, etc.skills, etc.

Deficiencies of Traditional Education

What Is Outcome Based Engineering Education?

IT’S NOT WHAT WE TEACH, IT’S NOT WHAT WE TEACH, IT’S WHAT IT’S WHAT YOU LEARNYOU LEARN

Introducing OBE

• OBE is an educational process.

• Directed/focussed at achieving certain specified outcomes in terms of individual student learning.

• Outcomes - key things students should understand and be able to do or the qualities they should develop.

• Both structures and curricula are designed to achieve those capabilities or qualities.

• Educational structures and curriculum are regarded as means not ends. If they do not do the job they are rethought (Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)).

Communication (verbal & written)Communication (verbal & written) 4.694.69 Honesty/IntegrityHonesty/Integrity 4.594.59 Teamwork skillsTeamwork skills 4.544.54 Interpersonal skillsInterpersonal skills 4.504.50 Strong work ethicsStrong work ethics 4.464.46 Motivation & initiativeMotivation & initiative 4.424.42 Flexibility/adaptabilityFlexibility/adaptability 4.414.41 Analytical skillsAnalytical skills 4.364.36 Computer skillsComputer skills 4.214.21 Organisational skillsOrganisational skills 4.054.05 Detail orientedDetail oriented 4.004.00 Leadership skills Leadership skills 3.973.97 Self confidenceSelf confidence 3.953.95 Friendly/outgoing personalityFriendly/outgoing personality 3.853.85 Well mannered / politeWell mannered / polite 3.823.82 TactfulnessTactfulness 3.753.75 GPA (3.0 or better)GPA (3.0 or better) 3.683.68 CreativityCreativity 3.593.59 Sense of humourSense of humour 3.253.25 Entrepreneurial skills/risk takerEntrepreneurial skills/risk taker 3.233.23

Employers Rating of Skills/Qualities – 2002

Outcome-Based Education

Outcome Based Education

Shifting from measuring input and process to include Shifting from measuring input and process to include measuring the output (outcome)measuring the output (outcome)

Input Process Output

From a Resource- or Input-Based or Process-Based Approach to an Outcome-Based Approach

Outcome Based Education (OBE)

OBE is a process that involves the restructuring of curriculum, OBE is a process that involves the restructuring of curriculum, assessment and reporting practices in education to reflect the assessment and reporting practices in education to reflect the achievement of high order learning and mastery rather than achievement of high order learning and mastery rather than accumulation of course credits.accumulation of course credits.

Amongst Expected Changes:Amongst Expected Changes:– Curriculum Restructuring/RevisionCurriculum Restructuring/Revision– Innovative/Flexible Delivery MethodInnovative/Flexible Delivery Method– Variety of Assessment & Evaluation MethodsVariety of Assessment & Evaluation Methods– Collection of EvidencesCollection of Evidences– Continuous Quality Improvement (Closing the Loop)Continuous Quality Improvement (Closing the Loop)

Outcome Based Education (OBE)

OBE addresses the following key questions:OBE addresses the following key questions: WhatWhat do you want the students to have or able to do? do you want the students to have or able to do? HowHow can you best help students achieve it? can you best help students achieve it? HowHow will you know whether they have achieved it? will you know whether they have achieved it? HowHow do you close the loop? do you close the loop?

The Relevancy of OBE

Rating/Accreditation requirements:

1. Quality Assurance Audit by the Ministry of Higher Education: Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) – emphasis on learning outcomes.

2. Accreditation Requirement for Engineering Programme by the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC): The New Accreditation Manual emphasizes learning outcomes – Related to the Washington Accord - A Global Dimension.

Some Real Benefits of OBE

Anticipation of real benefits– More directed & coherent curriculum– Graduates will be more “relevant” to industry & other

stakeholders (more well rounded graduates)– Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is an

inevitable consequence

Continuous Improvement

Say what you do

Do what you say

Prove it

Improve it

Programme Educational Objectives (PEO)

Programme Objectives are specific goals describing expected achievements of graduates in their career and professional life after graduation, and shall be:

• consistent with the mission and vision of the IHL, and

• responsive to the expressed interest of various groups of programme stakeholders

Long term outcomes

(5 years or more from the time of graduation)

Programme Objectives (PEO) for Computer Engineeringhttp://foe.mmu.edu.my/main/undergrad/beng_comp.html

To develop highly competent computer To develop highly competent computer engineers who are able to spearhead engineers who are able to spearhead related ICT industries related ICT industries

To produce computer engineers who are To produce computer engineers who are able to continually equip themselves with able to continually equip themselves with the latest technologies the latest technologies

Programme Outcomes (PO)http://foe.mmu.edu.my/main/undergrad/beng_comp.html

Programme Outcomes are statements describing what students are expected to know and be able to perform or attain by the time of graduation, and shall. These relate to the skills, knowledge, and behaviours that student acquire through the programme, and are linked to the Programme Objectives

Short term outcomes

(at the point of graduation)

Programme Outcomes (PO) for Computer Engineeringhttp://foe.mmu.edu.my/main/undergrad/beng_comp.html

1.1. Ability to acquire and apply fundamental principles of Ability to acquire and apply fundamental principles of science and engineering.science and engineering.

2.2. Capability to communicate effectively. Capability to communicate effectively. 3.3. Acquisition of technical competence in specialised Acquisition of technical competence in specialised

areas of engineering discipline. areas of engineering discipline. 4.4. Ability to identify, formulate and model problems and Ability to identify, formulate and model problems and

find engineering solutions based on a system find engineering solutions based on a system approach. approach.

5.5. Ability to conduct investigation and research on Ability to conduct investigation and research on engineering problems in a chosen field of study. engineering problems in a chosen field of study.

6.6. Understanding of the importance of sustainability and Understanding of the importance of sustainability and cost-effectiveness in design and development of cost-effectiveness in design and development of engineering solutions. engineering solutions.

Programme Outcomes (PO) for Computer Engineeringhttp://foe.mmu.edu.my/main/undergrad/beng_comp.html

7.7. Understanding and commitment to professional and Understanding and commitment to professional and ethical responsibilities.ethical responsibilities.

8.8. Ability to work effectively as an individual, and as a Ability to work effectively as an individual, and as a member/leader in a team.member/leader in a team.

9.9. Ability to be a multi-skilled engineer with good Ability to be a multi-skilled engineer with good technical knowledge, management, leadership and technical knowledge, management, leadership and entrepreneurial skills. entrepreneurial skills.

10.10. Awareness of the social, cultural, global and Awareness of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities as an engineer. environmental responsibilities as an engineer.

11.11. Capability and enthusiasm for self-improvement Capability and enthusiasm for self-improvement through continuous professional development and life-through continuous professional development and life-long learning. long learning.

Example Subject Objective from ECP4236Taken from the syllabus – see the syllabi of other subjects

to find their respective ones.

The objective of the subject is to provide the The objective of the subject is to provide the knowledge and basic applications of parallel knowledge and basic applications of parallel processing concepts, parallel environments processing concepts, parallel environments and architectures, parallel algorithms and and architectures, parallel algorithms and parallel programming. parallel programming.

Example Subject Learning Outcomes from ECP4236Taken from the syllabus – see the syllabi of other subjects

to find their respective ones.

At the completion of the subject, students At the completion of the subject, students should be able to:should be able to:– describe different types of parallelism, their describe different types of parallelism, their

principles and structures principles and structures – design, develop and analyse parallel algorithms design, develop and analyse parallel algorithms

for distributed and shared memory parallel for distributed and shared memory parallel systemssystems

Example Programme Outcomes from ECP4236Taken from the syllabus – see the syllabi of other subjects

to find their respective ones.

Ability to acquire and apply fundamental principles of science and Ability to acquire and apply fundamental principles of science and engineering.engineering.

Capability to communicate effectively. Capability to communicate effectively. Acquisition of technical competence in specialised areas of engineering Acquisition of technical competence in specialised areas of engineering

discipline. discipline. Ability to identify, formulate and model problems and find engineering Ability to identify, formulate and model problems and find engineering

solutions based on a system approach. solutions based on a system approach. Ability to conduct investigation and research on engineering problems in Ability to conduct investigation and research on engineering problems in

a chosen field of study. a chosen field of study. Understanding of the importance of sustainability and cost-effectiveness Understanding of the importance of sustainability and cost-effectiveness

in design and development of engineering solutions.in design and development of engineering solutions. Understanding and commitment to professional and ethical Understanding and commitment to professional and ethical

responsibilities.responsibilities. Ability to work effectively as an individual, and as a member/leader in a Ability to work effectively as an individual, and as a member/leader in a

team.team. Capability and enthusiasm for self-improvement through continuous Capability and enthusiasm for self-improvement through continuous

professional development and life-long learning. professional development and life-long learning.

The End

Thank you for your kind attention

Acknowledgement

The materials contained in this presentation are extracted from EAC Training Workshop 2006 & 2009 Modules:

Prof. Dr. Wan Hamidon (UKM)Assoc. Prof. Ir. Megat Johari (UPM)Prof. Dr. Shahrin Mohamad (UTM)Prof. Dr. Jailani Mohd. Noor (UKM)Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd. Saleh Jaafar (UPM)