Gulf Cooperation Council Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)

1. Gulf Cooperation Council Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) Report to the GCC Dean’s Committee Presented by Dr. Samir Al-Baiyat on behalf of the GABET Committee

2. GABET Committee • Dr. Andrew J. Wilson, University of Qatar • Dr. Ahmet Yigit, Kuwait University • Dr. Isa Qamber, Bahrain University • Dr. J. Richard Williams, United Arab Emirates University • Dr. Samir Al-Baiyat, King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals • Dr. Waleed Abu Farag, King Abdulaziz University GABET Committee Report

3. Outline • Review of Committee purpose • Summary of Committee activities • Committee Report GABET Committee Report

4. Committee Purpose • Prepare report on the reasons and goals for the formation of a academic accreditation board that would include the previous experience of other universities already accredited • Prepare for a workshop on academic accreditation to be held in parallel with any of the future meetings and coordinate with other international accreditation boards • Report to the GCC Dean’s Committee in order to present this to the GCC University Presidents GABET Committee Report

5. Committee Activities • Attendance at ABET Meeting in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA from October 31 to November 1, 2002 • Ongoing communication the Executive Director of ABET • Contact with representatives from JABEE, ABEEK, RAEE • GABET Committee meeting in Dubai, February 26-27, 2003 • Preparation of report and presentation GABET Committee Report

6. Committee Report • Introduction to ABET’s international accreditation activities • Background information • GCC Accreditation Board • Initiating GABET • Conclusions and recommendations • Workshop and conference plan GABET Committee Report

7. Introduction • Purpose and function of accreditation • International recognition of quality • External uniform and objective measures and evaluation • Promote continuous evaluation and improvement • Accreditation by ABET in the GCC • Established practice • “Substantial Equivalence” GABET Committee Report

8. Introduction • Direction of ABET • Limiting international accreditation activities • Promoting mutual agreements with other international accreditation agencies • Need for GABET GABET Committee Report

9. Background Information • GCC Universities with ABET “Substantial Equivalency” • Kuwait University • King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals • United Arab Emirates University • King Abdulaziz University • Other GCC universities actively seeking accreditation GABET Committee Report

10. Background Information • ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) • Accrediting programs for 75 years • Over 500 different programs at over 170 colleges and universities visited each year in the US • Operated and governed by member professional societies • International activities coordinated by International Activities Committee (INTAC) GABET Committee Report

11. Background Information • ABET Criteria • Engineering Criteria 2000 (EC 2000) • Fully implemented for engineering programs in US • International implementation to be fully phased in by fall of 2004 • Outcomes based assessment and continuous improvement GABET Committee Report

12. Background Information • ABET Organization • Four commissions • Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) • Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) • Computer Accreditation Commission (CAC) • Applied Science Accreditation Commission (ASAC) • Operated by professional societies with unpaid personnel • Commissions responsible for: • Development of accreditation criteria • Evaluation of programs • Recommendation of accreditation actions GABET Committee Report

13. Background Information • International agreements of ABET • Bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOU) • Canada – bilateral agreement • Washington Accord agreement • Original agreement between accrediting agencies of English speaking countries GABET Committee Report

14. Background Information • ABET international activities • Focusing primarily on US accreditation • Seeking to limit accreditation (“Substantial Equivalency”) of individual international institutions • Promoting agreements of mutual recognition with international accrediting bodies • Bilateral agreements • Washington accord • Promoting development of international accrediting bodies • JABEE • ABEK GABET Committee Report

15. Background Information • Summary of GCC ABET Activities • Attendance at ABET Annual meetings • Attendance at Istanbul ABET Workshop • Preparation for Conventional and EC 2000 visits • Preparation for and hosting of consultative and accreditation visits • Participation in program evaluator training • Presentation of papers on accreditation, outcomes assessment, and continuous improvement GABET Committee Report

16. Background Information • Conditions in the GCC • Unlikely that each country has the ability to establish individual accreditation agencies • Insufficient depth and breadth to accredit all programs of each university • Only one or two universities in some countries • Regional accreditation board is warranted • Limitations • Lack of professional society development • Political and legal changes may be required • Lack of culture of professional volunteerism • Leadership and expertise must come from universities and industry GABET Committee Report

17. Background Information • Conditions in the GCC (continued) • Professional registration • Accredited degree is usually first step • Registration of engineers not practiced in GCC • Proposals have been made in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait • Institutional assessment • Self assessment is integral to EC 2000 • Self assessment has been adopted by nearly all regional universities • Saudi Arabia and UAE have national institutional accreditation GABET Committee Report

18. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Purpose • Accredit programs within the GCC • Engineering • Technology • Computer science • Architecture • Enter into a MOU with ABET to develop GABET • Execute a bilateral agreement of mutual recognition with ABET • Eventually, become a signatory of the Washington Accord GABET Committee Report

19. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Organizing philosophy • Authority to accredit and recognition by GCC governments • Represent the engineering, technical, and professional communities it accredits • Balance between education and practice (university and industry) • Non-governmental and independent, free of vested interests GABET Committee Report

20. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) Organization GCC Secretariat- National Committees GCC Dean’s Board of Directors Executive Director Engineering Commission Technology Commission Computer Commission Architecture Commission GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) GABET Committee Report

21. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Initial Organization • Board of Directors • Executive Director • Accreditation Commissions GABET Committee Report

22. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Board of Directors • Purpose • Executive body • Appoint Executive Director • Development and approval of constitution • Approves • Polices and procedures • Accreditation criteria • Accreditation actions of Commissions GABET Committee Report

23. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Board of Directors • Membership • Minimum of two from each GCC country – one from industry and one from academia • Nominated by national committee • Ratified by the accreditation commissions • Minimum of one international member who is a member of an international accreditation commission • Term will be three years with membership having staggered terms GABET Committee Report

24. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Board of Directors • Qualifications • Minimum BS degree in engineering, technology, computer science, or architecture • Distinguished experience and accomplishments • Serving on an accreditation commission • Served as a visit team chair and program evaluator • In countries where no accredited programs exist, qualifications will be waived as appropriate GABET Committee Report

25. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Executive Director • Appointed by Board of Directors • Full time paid position • Duties • Responsible for administrative funtions • Carry out polices and directives of the Board • Liaison to the public • Organize and coordinate meetings and conferences • Establish and operate office GABET Committee Report

26. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Executive Director • Qualifications • Experience in accreditation • Member of one of the professions GABET Committee Report

27. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Accreditation Commissions • Performs actual accreditation activities • Duties • Develop and maintain accreditation criteria, polices and procedures • Manage and operate the accreditation process • Evaluate programs and recommend appropriate accreditation actions • Provide information and training on accreditation activities GABET Committee Report

28. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Accreditation Commissions • Membership • Balance between practitioners (industry and government) and educators • Each country – one industry and one academic member for each accredited discipline within the country • Additional members will be granted to countries with more than one university with accredited programs • Approved by the Board of Directors GABET Committee Report

29. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Accreditation Commissions • Membership (continued) • Qualifications • Minimum BS degree in engineering, technology, computer science, or orchitecture • Distinguished by experience and credentials to merit respect by peers GABET Committee Report

30. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Visit Team • Recommendations to achieve ABET equivalency • Headed by Team Chairman – member of appropriate Accreditation Commission • Team chairman will present the team report to the Accreditation Commission • One program evaluator for each program being evaluated • Program evaluator must have ABET or GABET training and have served as an observer • At least one member of the team shall be from ABET • If no GABET program evaluators are available, an ABET evaluator will be used GABET Committee Report

31. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Funding • Initially shared between the GCC Secretariat and the GCC universities • GCC universities will pay annual fees • GCC Secretariat will most likely need to fund startup costs and provide ongoing support • In future, professional societies may join as society members and pay fees • GABET office is recommended to be within the GCC Office Building in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia GABET Committee Report

32. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Reporting and accountability • Financial accountability to GCC Secretariat • Annual report to Secretariat, University Presidents’ Committee and Deans’ Committee GABET Committee Report

33. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) • Training activities and conferences • Annual meeting • Conduct business • Training workshops • Conference on assessment and quality improvement • International faculty workshop • ABET to conduct every third year • Meetings to rotate throughout the GCC GABET Committee Report

34. Initiating GABET • Establishment will require major commitment of time and expense • Report cannot provide complete blueprint, but only how to begin GABET Committee Report

35. Initiating GABET • Process • GCC Deans’ and Presidents’ Committees agree on GABET concept • Proposal to GCC Secretariat for approval and funding • GCC Deans to “champion” GABET • Recognition by government ministries, national industries, and professional societies • Formation of national committee and nomination of initial Board of Directors representatives GABET Committee Report

36. Initiating GABET • Process • Board of Directors • Seek an MOU with ABET • Establishment of constitution • Formation of commissions • Appointment of Executive Director • Development of detailed plan to fully develop GABET GABET Committee Report

37. Conclusions and Recommendations • The increasing demand for accreditation and ABET’s position on international accreditation make the formation of GABET a necessity • The GCC Deans’ Committee should revise and adopt the proposed plan to initiate GABET GABET Committee Report

38. Board Policy on International Activities • Promote and develop bilateral & multilateral mutual recognition agreements. • Assist nations in developing their accreditation systems, and provide guidance in the implementation of continuous quality improvement in engineering education in other countries.

39. Board Policy on International Activities • Work with other quality assurance organization to develop regional capacity building. • Conduct substantial equivalency evaluations in countries where there is no national engineering accreditation body