WASHINGTON ACCORD INITIATIVE

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Evangeline Strickland
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1 WASHINGTON ACCORD INITIATIVE -Presented at the -ACCREDITING AGENCY OF CHARTERED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES -24th Annual National Conference -Great Eastern Hotel, -February 15-17, 2011 BY THE PHILIPPINE TECHNOLOGICAL COUNCIL ENGR. FEDERICO A. MONSADA, Trustee/Project Director ENGR. RANULFO C. FELICIANO, President

2 OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION Washington Accord: Purposes and Brief History Basic Agreements among Washington Accord Signatories Value of Washington Accord Washington Accord Membership Path to Membership PTC as the signatory-applicant The Philippine WA Initiative Basic Framework 2010 The Renewed Beginning 2011 Onwards Accreditation is Voluntary but it Could be Imperative

3 WASHINGTON ACCORD: SCOPE AND PURPOSES Promotion of international mobility of engineers requires recognition of accredited education programs of other signatories Applies to accredited undergraduate education programs aimed at producing graduates to enter work as professional engineers Recognition means that a graduate in another signatory s economy is deemed to have meet the educational requirements for the defined purposes, e.g. Membership in professional engineering associations and registries, Employment requiring licensing and other legislated regulations

4 WASHINGTON ACCORD An agreement signed between bodies responsible for accrediting professional engineering degree programs in each of the signatory countries or economies Signatories mutually recognize the substantial equivalency of programs accredited by these bodies based on: Accreditation criteria, policies and procedures that are substantially equivalent, undertaken on Engineering academic programs that are substantially equivalent in satisfying the academic requirements (graduate outcomes) for the practice of engineering at the professional level.

5 WASHINGTON ACCORD Organized in October 28, 1989 Original signatories: Australia by Engineers Australia USA by Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology UK by Engineering Council UK Ireland by Engineers Ireland Canada by Engineers Canada New Zealand by Institution of Professional Engineers Subsequent Signatories: Hong Kong, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, in the order of year of admission. Provisional Signatories: Germany, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Pakistan

6 SOME BASIC WA AGREEMENTS The criteria, policies and procedures used by the signatories in accrediting engineering academic programs are comparable; The accreditation decisions rendered by one signatory is acceptable to the other signatories; The signatories will so indicate by publishing statements to that effect in an appropriate manner; To identify, and to encourage the implementation of best practice for the academic preparation of engineers intending to practice at the professional level; To continue mutual monitoring and information exchange by whatever means are considered most appropriate, including accreditation visits, observation of meetings and proceedings for accreditation by board/commissions, etc.

7 VALUE OF WASHINGTON ACCORD An international QA system for benchmarking the standard of engineering graduates For engineer mobility (mutual recognition arrangements already coming into place) Promotion of international education International adoption (by parties outside of WA members) as the educational standard for professional engineers such as by the APEC, WFEO, FEIAP, etc. Increasingly useful as a guide to institutionalizing QA for Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to maintain & continually improve educational standards (continuous quality improvement) Could be adopted by government educational authorities for their purposes For HEIs, as a means to attract more students, local and foreign.

8 WASHINGTON ACCORD MEMBERSHIP PROVISIONAL STATUS: Have demonstrated that the accreditation/recognition system appears to be conceptually similar to those of the other signatories Has potential to be a (full) signatory Programs substantial equivalency recognized only upon admission as new member. FULL SIGNATORY STATUS An organization entitled to fully participate in the Accord, enjoying the same rights and obligations as the other signatories. Must be independent of the academic institutions delivering the programs Representative of the engineering profession Statutory powers or recognized professional authority

9 PATH TO WA SIGNATORY Robust accreditation system in place An accreditation body with authority and recognition within the jurisdiction. Organized for sustainability. Pilot institutions and programs willing to pursue accreditation Accreditation evaluators who volunteer Budget to sustain the initiative Apply: As a Provisional Member (4 years with possible extension) o At least 2 Nominators from Existing Signatories o Mentors assigned to help Provisional member As a Full Signatory Comprehensive Evaluation over the Provisional Period

10 The PTC as the SIGNATORY APPLICANT Umbrella organization of 12 PRC-accredited professional engineering organizations (APOs) and one (1) self-certifying Professional Engineering Organization (PEO) Non-governmental, representing the engineering professionals and the engineering industry Independent of the HEIs offering the engineering programs Signed MOA with existing Accreditation Agencies (AACCUP, PAASCU, PACUCOA) Signed MOA with CHED for initial financial assistance Has experiences with Mutual Recognition Arrangements such as APEC Engineers, ASEAN Engineers, and now, ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineers. APEC Engineers under the same International Engineering Alliance as Washington Accord Membership with AFEO, WFEO, FEIAP, NABEEA

11 THE PHILIPPINE WA INITIATIVE What has been done, so far? What we planned to do? Basic Framework 2010 The Renewed Beginning 2011 Onwards

12 BASIC FRAMEWORK Bases: Signatories mutually recognize the substantial equivalency of programs accredited by these bodies based on: Accreditation criteria, policies and procedures that are substantially equivalent, undertaken on Engineering academic programs that are substantially equivalent in satisfying the academic requirements (graduate outcomes) for the practice of engineering at the professional level. Promotion of closer interaction among stakeholders and thereby foster continuous quality improvement

13 ENGINEERING INDUSTRY THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION INDUSTRY REQUIREMENTS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER PA As PT C Accreditation Accreditation Registration HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS PLAN CH ED DO On-going Project 1 PR C Higher Licensing Education Regulation Policies 4 PROF COMPETENCY STANDARDS & GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES ENGINEERING PROGRAM Program & Program Outcomes Institutional Resources, Infrastructure & Support Management Responsibility & Management Systems 2 3 ACT ASSESSMENT/ EVALUATION & FEEDBACK CHECK ENGINEERING STUDENT GRADUATE ENGINEER

14 BASIC FRAMEWORK Therefore, we must ensure that the following are in place: 1. Accreditation System that is substantially equivalent to those of Washington Accord 2. The required graduate attributes are established and documented and made evident to the educational provider concerned and that these attributes are substantially equivalent to the Accord exemplar 3. Accreditation organization (boards, commissions, evaluators, etc.) that implements the Accreditation and Certification System in a sustainable manner. 4. Higher educational institutions and programs who would volunteer to undergo the process of accreditation under the system

15 MAJOR PROJECTS UNDER THE WA INITIATIVE MAJOR ACTIVITY Q Q Q Q ESTABLISH & ADOPT GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES ESTABLISH ACCREDITATION & CERTIFICATION SYSTEM TRAIN THE ORGANIZATION AND EVALUATORS PILOT AT HEIs AND SELECTED PROGRAMS FILE APPLICATION

16 2010 RENEWED BEGINNING Signed MOA with Partner Accrediting Agencies to undertake activities related to the Initiative cooperatively, jointly and severally with PTC CHED to provide initial financial assistance & recognition of PTC Initiated communications with International Engineering Alliance indicating our plan to apply for Membership to Washington Accord Existing WA Signatories to seek possible nominations for membership and for possible technical assistance Initiated the following: 1. Organize PTC Certification and Accreditation Board 2. Sub-Project No. 1 - Define, Establish and Adopt a Generic Graduate Attributes and Competency Standards 3. Sub-Project No. 2 Define, Establish and Pilot a Generic Accreditation and Certification System for Engineering

17 ONWARDS 1. Complete the Establishment of a Single, Generic/Unified Accreditation and Certification System in cooperation with the PAAs 1st Quarter Complete the Formulation of Generic Graduate Attributes and Competency Standards 1st Quarter 3. Pilot the Accreditation and Certification System among selected HEIs and Programs 2ND Quarter 4. Training of Accreditors/Evaluators, HEIs and PTC Organization 5. Filing of Application (4th Quarter st Qtr 2012)

18 ACCREDITATION IS VOLUNTARY BUT IT COULD BECOME IMPERATIVE FOR US SOONER THAN WE WANT!

INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING ALLIANCE: EDUCATIONAL ACCORDS

INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING ALLIANCE: EDUCATIONAL ACCORDS WASHINGTON ACCORD 1989 SYDNEY ACCORD 2001 DUBLIN ACCORD 2002 PREAMBLE The Washington Accord, Sydney Accord and Dublin Accord are three multi-lateral