gulf cooperation council accreditation board for engineering and technology (gabet) report to the...
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Gulf Cooperation Council Accreditation Board for Engineering
and Technology (GABET)
Report to the GCC Dean’s CommitteePresented by
Dr. Samir Al-Baiyat on behalf of the GABET Committee
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report2
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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report3
Outline
Review of Committee purpose Summary of Committee activities Committee Report
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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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report5
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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report6
Committee Report
Introduction to ABET’s international accreditation activities Background information GCC Accreditation Board Initiating GABET Conclusions and recommendations Workshop and conference plan
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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”
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report8
Introduction
Direction of ABET– Limiting international accreditation activities– Promoting mutual agreements with other
international accreditation agencies
Need for GABET
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report14
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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report15
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
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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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report17
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
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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
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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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report20
GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Organization
Board of Directors Executive Director
Engineering Commission Computer CommissionTechnology Commission Architecture Commission
GCC Secretariat- GCC Dean’sNational Committees
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GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Initial Organization– Board of Directors– Executive Director– Accreditation Commissions
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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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report23
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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report24
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
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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
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GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Executive Director– Qualifications
Experience in accreditation Member of one of the professions
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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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report28
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
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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
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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
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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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report32
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
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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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report34
Initiating GABET
Establishment will require major commitment of time and expense
Report cannot provide complete blueprint, but only how to begin
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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
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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
May 6-7, 2003 GABET Committee Report37
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
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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