Gulf Cooperation Council Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET) Report to the...

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


Outline

Review of Committee purpose Summary of Committee activities Committee Report


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


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


Committee Report

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


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”


Introduction

Direction of ABET– Limiting international accreditation activities– Promoting mutual agreements with other

international accreditation agencies

Need for GABET


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



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)



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



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



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



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



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



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



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


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



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




Organization

Board of Directors Executive Director

Engineering Commission Computer CommissionTechnology Commission Architecture Commission

GCC Secretariat- GCC Dean’sNational Committees



Initial Organization– Board of Directors– Executive Director– Accreditation Commissions



Board of Directors– Purpose

Executive body Appoint Executive Director Development and approval of constitution Approves

– Polices and procedures– Accreditation criteria– Accreditation actions of Commissions



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



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



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



Executive Director– Qualifications

Experience in accreditation Member of one of the professions



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



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



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



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



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



Reporting and accountability– Financial accountability to GCC Secretariat– Annual report to Secretariat, University

Presidents’ Committee and Deans’ Committee



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


Initiating GABET

Establishment will require major commitment of time and expense

Report cannot provide complete blueprint, but only how to begin


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


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


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

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

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