Quality Assurance of Quality Assurance of Engineering Undergraduate Engineering Undergraduate

Education:Education: The Canadian ExperienceThe Canadian Experience

Bachelors of Engineering and Technology in Bachelors of Engineering and Technology in Modern Industry, Science and Business, June 17 – 18, Modern Industry, Science and Business, June 17 – 18, 2004, Moscow, Russia2004, Moscow, Russia

J. O’Brien, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.J. O’Brien, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.D. Wolfe, P.Eng. D. Wolfe, P.Eng.

Engineering in CanadaEngineering in Canada A self-regulated professionA self-regulated profession Constitution Act of 1867Constitution Act of 1867 Philosophy:Philosophy:

Members of the profession are “best qualified to Members of the profession are “best qualified to determine the appropriate standard of professional determine the appropriate standard of professional competence and ethics required for the protection of the competence and ethics required for the protection of the public”.public”.

Associations/Ordre: Associations/Ordre: OverviewOverview 12 regulatory entities12 regulatory entities Established via Established via

provincial/ territorial provincial/ territorial legislationlegislation

>160,000 P.Eng.>160,000 P.Eng.– 18,000 trained outside 18,000 trained outside

CanadaCanada

Associations/Ordre: Associations/Ordre: MembershipMembershipAssociation/OrdreAssociation/OrdrePEIPEINova ScotiaNova ScotiaNew BrunswickNew BrunswickNewfoundland & LabradorNewfoundland & LabradorQuQuéébecbecOntarioOntarioManitobaManitobaSaskatchewanSaskatchewanAlbertaAlbertaBritish ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaYukonYukonNorthwest Territories & Northwest Territories & NunavutNunavut

Licenses*Licenses*150150

4,5004,5002,0002,0002,0002,000

45,00045,00063,00063,000

4,5004,5003,0003,000

35,00035,00016,50016,500

150150300300 *including EITs, limited licenses, retired P.Eng.*including EITs, limited licenses, retired P.Eng.

Associations/Ordre: Associations/Ordre: ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities Right to title (exclusive scope of practice)Right to title (exclusive scope of practice) Set standards for licensureSet standards for licensure Ensure compliance Ensure compliance Take enforcement actionTake enforcement action

Requirements for LicensureRequirements for Licensure Undergraduate degreeUndergraduate degree Engineering experienceEngineering experience Ethics and lawEthics and law Good characterGood character Communication skillsCommunication skills

Canadian Council of Professional Canadian Council of Professional EngineersEngineers Federation of provincial/territorial Federation of provincial/territorial

associations that license engineers associations that license engineers Represents profession nationally and Represents profession nationally and

internationallyinternationally Prepares national criteria and guidelinesPrepares national criteria and guidelines Accredits university engineering educational Accredits university engineering educational

programsprograms

The Canadian Educational The Canadian Educational SystemSystem Education is a provincial/territorial Education is a provincial/territorial

responsibilityresponsibility– 13 provinces/territories = 13 education systems13 provinces/territories = 13 education systems

3 educational stages:3 educational stages:– Elementary (primary)Elementary (primary)– Secondary Secondary – Post-secondaryPost-secondary

Elementary + Secondary = 12 yearsElementary + Secondary = 12 years

Publicly-fundedPublicly-funded Starts at 6 years of ageStarts at 6 years of age Attendance compulsory to age 15 or 16 Attendance compulsory to age 15 or 16

yearsyears

Elementary and Secondary Elementary and Secondary SchoolingSchooling

Post-secondary EducationPost-secondary Education Governed by provinces/territoriesGoverned by provinces/territories Universities and collegesUniversities and colleges Funding from:Funding from:

– Provinces/territoriesProvinces/territories– Federal GovernmentFederal Government– TuitionTuition– External sourcesExternal sources

Engineering EducationEngineering Education 3 degree levels:3 degree levels:

– Bachelor’sBachelor’s– Master’sMaster’s– DoctoralDoctoral

Entrance requirements consistent across Entrance requirements consistent across Canada:Canada:

– Complete secondary education (12 years)Complete secondary education (12 years)– Common suite of secondary school courses (math, physics, Common suite of secondary school courses (math, physics,

language)language)

Minimum 4 years of studyMinimum 4 years of study

Engineering Education Engineering Education (cont’d.)(cont’d.) 36 post-secondary institutions36 post-secondary institutions 71 fields of study71 fields of study 236 accredited programs236 accredited programs 50,000 students50,000 students 8,700 graduates per year8,700 graduates per year

Canadian Engineering Accreditation Canadian Engineering Accreditation BoardBoard Goals:Goals:

– Quality assurance Quality assurance – Continuous improvement Continuous improvement

Develops criteria, processes, proceduresDevelops criteria, processes, procedures Advises Associations/Ordre Advises Associations/Ordre

Accreditation: Accreditation: PurposePurpose Competence in engineering Competence in engineering plusplus

understanding of impact of engineering on understanding of impact of engineering on societysociety

Emphasis on:Emphasis on:– quality of students quality of students – academic and support systems and staffacademic and support systems and staff– educational facilitieseducational facilities

To identify those engineering programs that To identify those engineering programs that meet accreditation criteriameet accreditation criteria

Accreditation: Accreditation: AssumptionsAssumptions Undergraduate programs onlyUndergraduate programs only Program, not departments, faculties, or schoolsProgram, not departments, faculties, or schools 16 years of education16 years of education Criteria:Criteria:

– Input-basedInput-based– Outcomes-based Outcomes-based – Constant evolutionConstant evolution

Accreditation: Accreditation: International International ActivitiesActivities Mobility for engineers and quality assurance Mobility for engineers and quality assurance

of international qualificationsof international qualifications External Initiatives:External Initiatives:

– Mutual Recognition AgreementsMutual Recognition Agreements– Washington AccordWashington Accord– Substantial Equivalency VisitsSubstantial Equivalency Visits

Internal Initiatives:Internal Initiatives:– Facilitate licensure for internationally-trainedFacilitate licensure for internationally-trained engineersengineers

International Engineering International Engineering GraduatesGraduates Engineering in CanadaEngineering in Canada

– 96% employment rate96% employment rate– Salaries 50% higher than national averageSalaries 50% higher than national average– Range of disciplines and employersRange of disciplines and employers

FC21: From Consideration to IntegrationFC21: From Consideration to Integration– Determine barriersDetermine barriers– Enhance processesEnhance processes– Public safety not to be compromisedPublic safety not to be compromised– Academic and professional standards are maintainedAcademic and professional standards are maintained

FC21: FC21: From Consideration to From Consideration to IntegrationIntegration 3 phases3 phases

1.1. Data collection Data collection 2.2. Analysis and identification of enhancementsAnalysis and identification of enhancements3.3. Implementation of process improvementsImplementation of process improvements

Preliminary FindingsPreliminary Findings– Understanding licensure requirements across CanadaUnderstanding licensure requirements across Canada– Assessment of academic qualificationsAssessment of academic qualifications– Timeframe for licensure Timeframe for licensure

Possible Conclusions:Possible Conclusions:– Quality assurance provided by International agreements Quality assurance provided by International agreements

and “substantial equivalency”and “substantial equivalency”– Communication is keyCommunication is key

Increasing importance of international activitiesIncreasing importance of international activities Assurance that high standards are maintainedAssurance that high standards are maintained Facilitating licensure of internationally trained Facilitating licensure of internationally trained

engineers in Canadaengineers in Canada– Referrals to other professionsReferrals to other professions

Facilitating mobility for Canadian-trained Facilitating mobility for Canadian-trained engineersengineers

Future ConsiderationsFuture Considerations

Questions?Questions?

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