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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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Ministry of Education Beijing 2007

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Beijing 2007

Bruce Eisenstein speaks

Note the Engineers Ireland Logo

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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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Training session for Peruvian program evaluators, December 2006

Lima, December 2006

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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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Arequipa, December 2007

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Arequipa, December 2007

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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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Caribbean Accreditation Council for Engineering and Technology

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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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Accreditation.org

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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)

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Questions or Comments