ASIIN

1. Joint Quality Initiative Meeting Descriptors of Learning Outcomes, Understanding and USE ASIIN Accreditation Agency for Study Programs in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences and Mathematics October 5, 2006,Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Content • Current Status of the Bologna Process – The Decisions of the Bergen Conference – The upcoming London Meeting • General Context and Prevailing Conditions of Engineering Accreditation in a European Setting - Impediments for Transnational Recognition of Engineering Degrees in Europe • The „EURopean-ACcrEdited”--Project • The European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE)

3. The decisions of the Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Higher Education in Bergen • Expansion of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) to 45 European countries; new members are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, Confirmation of the Commitment to establish the EHEA by 2010, Central Role of HEIs, their staff and students as partners in the Bologna process. • The degree system • Observation that the two-cycle degree system is being implemented in most European countries with more than half of the students being enrolled • Adoption of an overarching framework for qualifications in the EHEA, comprising three cycles; formulation of generic descriptors for each cycle based on learning outcomes and competences; fixing of credit ranges in the first and second cycle (180-240 ECTS / 60-120 ECTS). • Commitment of the 45 Bologna countries to develop national qualification frameworks until 2010. • Complementarily between the overarching qualification framework for the EHEA and the proposed broader framework for qualifications for LLL encompassing general education as well as vocation education and training.

4. The decisions of the Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Higher Education in Bergen II • Quality assurance • Request vis a vis the HEIs to continue their efforts to enhance the quality of their activities through the systematic introduction of internal mechanisms and their direct correlation to external quality assurance. • Adoption of the model of peer reviews of quality assurance agencies on a national basis, while respecting the commonly accepted guidelines and criteria. • Introduction of the principle of a European register of quality assurance agencies based on national reviews. • Recognition of degrees and study periods • The Ministers urge all Bologna countries to ratify the Lisbon Recognition Convention (36 of 45 countries have done so). • Call on all partners to address recognition problems (degrees which are accepted in two or more countries of the EHEA should be accepted).

5. International Accreditation Networks Generic Global Scale INQAAHE International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education ENQA European Network for Quality Assurance European Scale More than 40 members in Europe, mostly Quality Assurance/Accreditation Agencies + National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB), European University Association (EUA), European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE), European Centre for Higher Education (UNESCO-CEPES) and the Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe (UNICE). ECA European Consortium for Accreditation Österreichischer Akkreditierungsrat, Austria; Fachhochschulrat, Austria; Akkreditierungsrat, Germany; ZEvA, Germany; FIBAA,Germany; ACQUIN, Germany; AQAS, Germany; AHPGS, Germany; The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC), Ireland; Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatie Organisatie (NVAO), the Netherlands/Flanders; Nasjonalt organ for kvalitet i utdanningen (NOKUT), Norway; Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación (ANECA), Spain; Organ für Akkreditierung und Qualitätssicherung der Schweizerischen Hochschulen (OAQ), Switzerland

6. International Accreditation Networks Field Specific Washington Accord Incl. 2 members of ENAEE Global Scale European Scale ENAEE („EUR-ACE“-Label) European Network for the Accreditation of Engineering Education EQUIS/EFMD European Quality Improvement System WFMEWorld Federation for Medical Education Euro-Inf ECTN (Eurobachelor-Label) European Chemistry Thematic Network Association leading international system of quality assessment, improvement, and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration Regional offices in Africa, The Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia, Western Pacidfic European funded project to jolint European accreditation standards and a qualification framework for accreditation of informatics / computer-science education More than200 chemical societies and HE EEurope All European Engineering Accreditation Agencies + FEANI, SEFI, CESAER, EUROCADRE S etc.

7. The European Landscape: Context for the development of accreditation schemes 1.) Characterized by mostly public higher education systems; institutions and programmes derive their formal degree-awarding capacity from the state. Because of the diversity of both degrees and institutions, public knowledge about their quality is not sufficient across national borders and even sometimes within one country. 2.) In some countries the academic degree constitutes the automatic admission ticket to the job market whereas in others additional prerequisites are demanded to acquire professional status (e.g. registered engineer) 3.) Degree and institutional diversity is matched by a great variety of national quality assurance and accreditation systems (some of them are national, others decentralized). There are few mechanisms in place to recognize the results of an evaluation and accreditation. 4.) Problem of a growing non-official higher education sector and the phenomenon of trans-national education with a lack of regulatory codes.

8. The EUR-ACE Project: Membership FEANI • Eurocadres • CESAER • ENQHEEI ECUK C.T.I ASIIN EUR-ACE: Aims at a European Accord for the Mutual Recognition of accredited engineering programs O.D.E • CoPI • UNIFI/Tree (University of Florence) CNEAA UACER SEFI IEI RAEE

9. II. The EUR-ACE ProjectOverview of EUR-ACE and Derived Projects Two Projects derived from ENAEE with FEANI participation: Project EUR-ACE 1 Legal Representative: FEANIPartners: SEFI; CESAER; EUROCADRES; ENQHEEI; ASIIN; CTI; IEI; CoPI; UNIFI; OE; UAICR; RAEE; EC UK Output: EUR-ACE Framework Standards and Procedures+Statutes+Financial Plan for ENAEE 07/2004 PROEAST Implementation of EUR-ACE Standards in Russia won LEPAC Implementation in Lebanon open 03/2006 03/2006 New Project EUR-ACE 2Legal Representative: UNIFIPartners: ENAEE; FEANI; SEFI; EUROCADRES; EUA; IDA; ASIIN; AUA; CTI; IEI; CoPI; CRUI; NVAO; OE; EC UK; UAICR; MÜDEK Implementation of EUR-ACE Framework Standards in Europe; Accreditation to be made by accreditation institutes (existing ones and new ones to be set up) Founding of ENAEE aisbl Partners: FEANI; EC UK; CTI; BBT; ASIIN; OE; CoPI; UAICR; SEFI; IEI; RAEE; UNIFI;EUROCADRES; IDA; Project infrastructure andcompetence to implement EUR-ACE Trademark; Maintain Standards; Income should come from EU funding,accreditations, partners Financial Plan: Staff: 1 Project Manager; publications, marketing, PR, seminars 09/2006 To be executed by ENAEE Projects funded by the EU Ph. Wauters, 10/2006www.feani.org <

10. What is the central purpose of the EUR-ACE project? In order to overcome the difficulties in the mutual recognition of academic and professional qualifications, and facilitate the mobility and trans-national acceptance of engineers EUR-ACE has on the 31.12.2005 proposed a framework for setting up a [single] European system for accreditation of engineering education at the First Cycle and Second Cycle level (as defined within the Bologna process) contributing thereby to establishing the European Higher Education Area ….

11. The EUR-ACE Project: Objectives • The EUR-ACE project is a contribution to the realization of the European Higher Education Area. It aims at proposing a framework with the following main aims: • to provide an appropriate “European label” to accredited educational programmes in Europe, while distinguishing between a first and second study cycle. • to facilitate mutual recognition agreements • to facilitate recognition by the competent authorities, in accord with the EU Directives. An intensive networking system with the FEANI index is planned. • to improve the quality of educational programmes in engineering.

12. EUR-ACE Project: What has been accomplished? (I) • EUR-ACE has reviewed criteria and standards already existing in Europe for FC and SC engineering degrees, compiling a background document: “Overview: Accreditation Procedures and Criteria for Engineering Programmes in Europe". • The EUR-ACE- partners meanwhile have reached a consensus concerning Outcome-Standards for first and second cycle accredited engineering programmes. They are valid for all branches of engineering. On the basis of 6 indicators (Knowledge and Understanding, Engineering Analysis, Engineering Design, Investigations, Engineering Practice, Transferable Skills), the qualification and capabilities competences of graduates are described. • An Agreement concerning the number of Credits assigned to the two cycles has been reached : a graduate from a FCD must have no less than 180 credits, a graduate from an accredited SCD no less than 240 credits.

13. EUR-ACE Project: What has been accomplished? (II) • The criteria and quality requirements for the accreditation of engineering programs have been defined, considering the following items (Needs, Objectives and Outcomes; Educational Process; Resources and Partnerships; Assessment of the Educational Process; Management System). • The 14 partners have reached a consensus with regard to “Guidelines for the Evaluation of Individual Requirements (acceptable; with prescriptions; unacceptable) and for programme accreditation (accredited without reservation; accredited with prescriptions; not accredited). • Consensus on Procedures for Programme Accreditation (composition of accreditation team, duration and structure of the visit; verification and validation of the report; decision on the accreditation; publication (template)

14. Further observations (1) • The framework has been designed to be applied to the accreditation of both First Cycle and Second Cycle programmes within the Bologna process, in which an accredited Second Cycle programme would normally be in series with a First Cycle programme. However the use of programme outcomes means that the framework is also applicable to the accreditation of integrated programmes. • It does nor refer to “short cycle” or Doctoral (“third cycle”) programmes. • It does not distinguish between “branches” (disciplines or specializations): therefore in actual applications must be complemented by other requirements. • It is intended for accreditation of educational programmes as a suitable “entry route to the engineering profession”.

15. Further Observations (2) • Although professional recognition of the engineering titles is considered as the ultimate goal of accreditation labels, these cannot be considered automatically equivalent to professional recognition. To practice the engineering profession, further qualifications (e.g. State exams) and/or experience are required in some countries. • It is intended that if, in a particular country, established accreditation standards cover fully the requirements proposed in this framework, then the award of the European label will be automatic. • The standards are not intended for evaluation of Institutions. • The Tentative Standards appear flexible enough to accommodate national and subject differences and to leave the door open to future developments, so that the proposed accreditation standards will not become a straightjacket but rather an incentive to continuously make improvements through incorporating best practice.

16. EUR-ACE-Standards Contents: • EUR-ACE Standards and Procedures • Programme outcomes • (differentiating between FC and SC graduates) • Criteria and Quality Requirements for Accreditation • Accreditation Procedure • Template for Publication of Results • Explanatory notes:www.asiin.de  ASIIN  International Activities • www.FEANI.ORG

17. EUR-ACE Program Outcomes I

18. EUR-ACE Program Outcomes II

19. Tentative Standards Guidelines for a programme assessment • Needs, objectives and outcomes (3 criteria) • Educational process (3 criteria) • Resources and partnerships (4 criteria) • Assessment of the educational process (2 criteria) • Management system (3 criteria) • For each criteria one or more requirements have been established.

20. Founding Date: • Initiated on October 7, 2005, in Berlin, Germany • Statutes to be ratified in February 2006 Founding Members: • GOALS •  European Accord with regard to the mutual recognition of engineer degrees • FEANI has decided to accept the „EUR-ACE“-accreditation for the FEANI index and the „EURO-ING“ register. • FEANI • Engineering Council UK (ECUK) • Commission des Titres d‘Ingenieurs (CTI) • ASIIN • Ordem dos Engenheiros (OE) • Conferenza dei Presidi delle Facoltá di Ingeneria Italiane (CoPI) • Uniunea Asociatilor Inginerilor Constructori Romania (UAICR) • Societe Europeenne pour la Formation d‘Ingenieurs (SEFI) • Engineers Ireland (EI) • Russian Association for Engineering Education (RAEE) • Conseil des Cadres Europeennes (EUROCADRES) • University of Florence (UNIFI)

21. Goals: • To build confidence in systems of accreditation of engineering degree programmes within Europe and • To promote the implementation of accreditation practice for engineering education systems in Europe. Activities: • Facilitating the free exchange of information and providing an effective communication channel for those bodies and individuals concerned with educational and professional standards in Engineering throughout the European Higher Education Area. • Providing such information as already exists within each country on topics and issues connected with educational and professional engineering standards • Participating in the creation and ultimately the administration of a European accreditation framework for engineering education programmes.

22. < EUR-ACEAccreditation of European Engineering Programmes (First Cycle – Second Cycle) • FEANI Motivation for involvement in EUR-ACE • EUR-ACE Projects • EUR-ACE Standards and Accreditation Procedures

23. < I. FEANIThe European Professional Engineer Organization Created September 1951 in Luxembourg by Professional Engineer Organizations from 7 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg • Today: • FEANI unites Professional Organizations from 26 EU countries *> 80 National Engineering Associations> 2 million professional Engineers • Possible next Members: • Norwegian organizations re-integration- Applications received from other candidates: Turkey • * 29 countries starting 2007, including Russia (RUSEA) as Provisional Member Ph. Wauters, October 2006 www.feani.org

24. < I. FEANIThe FEANI INDEX • The FEANI INDEX (started in the 80’s): • Contains for the countries where FEANI is present a list of institutions of engineering higher education and their engineering programmes, which are recognized as fulfilling the FEANI standards • Conditions for a programme to be included in the INDEX:a minimum duration of 3 years (180 ECTS), and providing a suitable balance of basic sciences, engineering sciences, and non-technical subjects • The acceptance process is based on a description of the teaching staff qualifications, in terms of academic degrees and professional experience, and of laboratory facilities • The INDEX database is centrally maintained at the Secretariat General Ph. Wauters, October 2006 www.feani.org

25. < I. FEANIThe FEANI INDEX • The FEANI INDEX(cont) • The INDEX includes • more than 9,600 programmes • about 2,600 different names of programmes • more than 970 schools • The INDEX comprises • a short description of the national engineering educational and professional systems • the names of the accepted institutions of engineering higher education and their accepted programmes • the academic title in the national language • the nominal duration of study, expressed in U and T • the period of validity of the course Ph. Wauters, October 2006 www.feani.org

26. < I. FEANIFEANI Motivation for Involvement in EUR-ACE The FEANI INDEX(cont) Until now:Acceptance process exclusively done by FEANI experts Next step: From a FEANI proprietary system of acceptance to an open European accreditation system  EUR-ACE EUR-ACE accredited course will be accepted in the FEANI INDEX Ph. Wauters, October 2006 www.feani.org

27. < II. The EUR-ACE Project A EU Socrates-Tempus financed project • Set up a European System for Accreditation of Engineering Education • to provide a ‘European Label’ of the accredited programmes as entry route to the profession • EUR-ACE Trademark • to facilitate transnational recognition of the education programme by European label marketing • to facilitate recognition of the graduate by National authorities of the European Member States (in line with the EU Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualifications) • to facilitate universal recognition agreements Objective: Ph. Wauters, October 2006 www.feani.org

28. < II. The EUR-ACE Project A EU Socrates-Tempus financed project Output: • An Accreditation Framework with 6 Programme Outcomes of accredited engineering degrees • For First Cycle and Second Cycle • Mandatory as entry route to the profession • Approved by unanimity by the partners • To be implemented from now on by authorized accreditation institutes •  delivery of the EUR-ACE label to the successful accredited programmes Ph. Wauters, October 2006 www.feani.org

29. < II. The EUR-ACE ProjectProject EUR-ACE 1: Partners Ph. Wauters, October 2006 www.feani.org