Transcript Quality Assurance in Engineering Education in Canada

Quality Assurance in Engineering
Education in Canada Accreditation
Dr. Eric R. Norris, Eng.
Former Chair Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board
&
Member - International Committee, Canadian
Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE)
Historical Background
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Canadian confederation - 1867.
Originally 5 provinces.
Grown to 10 provinces + 3 territories.
Federal government responsibilities include
such things as national defense,
international relations, etc
 Provinces responsible for education.
Engineering Education in Canada
 Universities in Canada are both “private” and
“public”.
 Most “private” institutions depend upon
government financial support.
 Entry to profession after bachelor degree.
 Twelve years to high school graduation + 4 years
university.
 Exception - Quebec province - 11 years to high
school graduation + 2 years college + university.
The Engineering Profession in
Canada
There are more than 160,000
licensed engineers in Canada
Canada is the 3rd largest exporter of
engineering services in the world
A Diversity of Disciplines
(Classifications have no official standing)
 “Traditional” - Civil, Mechanical, Electrical,
Chemical, Agricultural, Engineering Physics.
 “Recent” - Computer, Environmental, Software,
Aerospace, Industrial, Geologic, Materials,
Integrated Engineering.
 “Niche” or Specialized - Ceramic, Building,
Electronic Systems, Mining, Metallurgical,
Mineral, Naval Architectural, Forestry,
Surveying.
 Sometimes augmented by Management
A Self-Governing Profession
 The Canadian constitution places professions
under provincial and territorial jurisdiction.
 Delegation to the professions - selfgovernance.
 Licensing, discipline and enforcement.
 Associations formed to protect the public and
govern the profession.
 Legislative framework established.
 No industrial exemption: all who practice
engineering must be licensed.
Canadian Council of Professional
Engineers (CCPE)
 Federation of 12 provincial and territorial
associations - more than 160,000 members.
 Represents the profession at national and
international levels
 Accredits university engineering educational
programs.
 Prepares national criteria and guidelines.
CCPE, continued…...
 Under the Federal Trade-marks act, the CCPE
is the owner of the official marks “engineer”,
“professional engineer”, and “engineering”.
 The CCPE has the right and duty to protect the
public from the misuse of the words “engineer”
and “engineering”.
The Practice of Engineering
(CCPE Definition)
The practice of Professional engineering means
any act of planning, designing, composing,
evaluating, advising, reporting, directing or
supervising, or managing any of the foregoing,
 that requires the application of engineering principles,
and
 that concerns the safeguarding of life, health,
property, economic interests, the public welfare or the
environment.
CCPE Structure
Council - with representation from all
provinces and territories.
Board of Directors
Standing Committees
 Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board
 Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board
 International Committee
Canadian Engineering
Accreditation Board (CEAB)
 1965 - CEAB established. In 2002, 228 programs
in 35 engineering schools accredited (including
three software engineering programs).
 Objective: To ensure Canadian engineering
education programs meet or exceed standards
acceptable for professional registration/licensure
in the Canadian provinces and territories.
 Purpose of Accreditation: to identify those
engineering programs that meet the criteria for
accreditation.
General Considerations
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Applies to bachelor degree programs.
Program must include engineering in the title
All options and electives are examined
CEAB curriculum content must be met by all
students (minimum path)
 Faculty teaching courses which are primarily
engineering science and engineering design are
expected to be professional engineers in Canada
Benefits of Accreditation
 credibility for program.
 graduates meet academic requirements for
professional registration.
 international recognition of engineering
credentials.
 uniform quality of engineering programs.
 fosters self examination and continuous
improvement.
 improvement or elimination of engineering
programs which do not meet standards.
Criteria For Accreditation
 Quantitative and Qualitative evaluation.
 Accredited engineering programs must
contain not only mathematics, sciences and
engineering content requirements, but they
must also develop communication skills and
an understanding of the environmental,
cultural, economic and social impacts of
engineering on society and the concept of
sustainable development.
Quantitative Evaluation
 Absolute measurement of
curriculum content in terms of
Accreditation Units
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One hour (50 minutes) lecture=1 AU
One hour of tutorial or laboratory =
0.5 AU
Alternative proportionate measure
Minimum Curriculum
Requirements
 Program minimum 1,800 AU expected to be around
2,000 AU.
 Mathematics (Mat) - minimum 195 AU.
 Basic Sciences (BS) - minimum 195 AU.
 Mat + BS - minimum 420 AU.
 Engineering Sciences(ES) - minimum 225AU.
Engineering Design(ED) - minimum 225 AU.
 ES+ED - minimum 900 AU
 Complementary Studies - minimum 225 AU.
Minima are purposely kept low to allow innovation.
Other Considerations
 Students’ exposure to profession, ethics,
equity, public and worker safety and
health considerations, concepts of
sustainable development, environmental
stewardship.
 Opportunity to learn independently
 Opportunity to work in teams
Professional Considerations
 Dean, Department Chair, Program
coordinators and faculty teaching courses
which are primarily engineering science
and engineering design are expected to be
registered professional engineers in
Canada.
 Curriculum development and control
should be in the hands of registered
professional engineers
Professional Licensing
National Guidelines for
Licensing
 Candidate Types:
 CEAB grads
 CEAB recognized grads (MRA)
 Non-CEAB recognized grads
 Related-discipline grads
Requirements for Licensure
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Academic
Experience
Professional Practice Exam
Language
References
Academic Assessment
 CEAB accredited or recognized
program
 Confirmatory Program
 Examination Program
Experience Evaluation
 Application of theory
 Practical experience
 Management of engineering
 Communication skills
 Social implications of engineering
Professional Practice
Examination
 3 hour examination
 Professionalism
 Engineering Law
Language
 French in Quebec, French or English in
New Brunswick, English in all other
jurisdictions
References
 technical competence in the application
of engineering principles and theory
 ability to exercise professional judgment
 ability to communicate effectively in the
language of the jurisdiction
 ability to work on a team
 character
Role of Associations
 Setting standards (academic, experience,
references) for admission to the profession
and issuing licenses to those who qualify.
 Enforcement activities for those practicing
engineering who are not licensed or those
claiming to be engineers who are not
licensed.
 Investigation of complaints against
Members.
Role of Associations, continued...
 Discipline activities against members who
perform incompetently, breach the Code of
ethics, code of conduct;
 Preparation of guidelines relating to various
practice issues for the benefit of the public
or the membership;
 Continuing competency programs.
International Agreements
 Recognition of “Substantial Equivalency”
of systems of accreditation of educational
programs.
 MRA with ABET.
 The Washington Accord.
 CEAB performs the evaluation of
equivalency.
The Washington Accord
 Charter signatories (1989) are
Australia, Canada, Ireland, New
Zealand, United Kingdom, United
States.
 An agreement among bodies
responsible for accrediting professional
engineering degrees in signatory
countries.
The Washington Accord
 Subsequent signatories are Hong Kong
(1995), South Africa (1999)
 Degrees accepted only from date of
acceptance into the Accord.).
 Degrees recognized only within the national
boundaries of signatories.
 Licensure is governed by the rules of the
respective signatories.
The Washington Accord
 Applies only to undergraduate degrees in
the signatory countries.
 New signatories require unanimous
approval.
 Comprehensive review at intervals not to
exceed 6 years.
 General meeting every 2 years.
The Washington Accord
 Location of Secretariat and Chair appointed
at end of general meeting – not to be same
country.
 Application for provisional status must be
supported by 2 signatories – approval
requires 2/3 majority.
 Provisional status for minimum of 2 years.
Thank You !