Accreditation System of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) by Ir Kenneth HSU

1. Accreditation System of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) by Ir Kenneth HSU Chairman of HKIE Accreditation Board

2. Admitted to the Sydney Accord Founding of Engineering Society of Hong Kong Admitted to the Washington Accord Incorporated by Law as the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Verified as a full signatory to the Washington Accord Verified as a full signatory to the Sydney Accord Historical Background 1975 1997 2001 2003 1947 1995

3. International Recognition • Washington Accord – Engineering Degrees • Sydney Accord – Engineering Higher Diplomas and Associate Degrees (including computing Higher Diploma/ Associate Degree programmes)

4. Washington Accord In June 1995, the Institution joined the Washington Accord as one of the signatories. Engineering degrees accredited by the HKIE are recognised by all other signatories which include the following: Russia * Canada UK Germany * Ireland Japan USA Korea Chinese Taipei India * Hong Kong Malaysia * Sri Lanka * Singapore S. Africa Australia New Zealand * Provisional Member

5. Canada Ireland Hong Kong S. Africa Australia New Zealand Sydney Accord In June 2003, the Institution was verified as a full signatory to the Sydney Accord. Higher Diplomas and Associate Degrees accredited by the HKIE are recognised by all other signatories which include the following: UK USA * * Provisional Member

6. Accreditation System (1) Organization Structure COUNCIL Accreditation Board Accreditation of engineering degrees and generic policies setting Accreditation Committee for Higher Diploma Programmes Accreditation Committee for Computer Science Programmes Accreditation of Higher Diplomas & Associate Degrees Accreditation of Computer Science Degrees

7. Accreditation System (Cont.) Example : Composition of Accreditation Board • Composition of the Accreditation Board • Local Member - 16 • Overseas Members - up to 4 • Appointment of Board Members takes into account a balance between disciplines, academic and practicing engineers, and expertise in accreditation. • Each appointment duration is 5 years.

8. (2) Accreditation Criteria • Aims and Objectives of the Engineering Programme • Syllabus and Curriculum Requirements The curriculum for engineering degree programmes would normally be expected to contain the following main components: • 16% Mathematics • 60% Engineering Subjects • 20% Complementary Studies

9. Accreditation Criteria (Cont.) • Mathematics • Emphasize mathematical concepts and principles, with numerical analysis and applications • Engineering Subjects • Engineering Science • Engineering Design and Synthesis • Laboratory and Field Work • Computing • Project Work

10. Accreditation Criteria (Cont.) • Complementary Studies • Management, economics, law, finance, languages, humanities, social sciences etc • Academic Staff • Quality, commitment and credentials • Research activities • Professional involvement • Continuing professional development and training

11. Accreditation Criteria • Students • Minimum entrance requirements and actual intake qualifications • Selection criteria • Enthusiasm for and perception of the programme • Utilization of programme facilities • Performance in examinations and projects

12. Accreditation Criteria (Cont.) • Resources and Facilities • Funding • Administrative and related support • Provision of various infrastructure resources • Fund for equipment upgrade and maintenance

13. Accreditation Criteria • Assessment & Quality Assurance • Effectiveness of assessment programme to measure the performance of students • Grading of course work and feedback to students • In-house quality assurance system • Independent external examiner or other system to maintain the academic standard of programmes 13

14. (3) The Accreditation Process • University invites the Accreditation Board to carry out an accreditation exercise • Appointment of a Visiting Team Chairman and Team Members from an Accreditation Panel (database) • A single discipline Visiting Team is typically made up of 4 members (Chairman + 3 members) • For Faculty based visits, each team shall consist of a Team Chairman and for each programme being assessed, not less than two members in each sub-team

15. (3) The Accreditation Process (Cont.) • Appointment of the Visiting Team • Approximately equal number of academics and non-academics • Must be experienced in the discipline • Adequate accreditation experience • No conflict of interest • The university may raise objection to a team member if there is a conflict of interest

16. (3) The Accreditation Process (Cont.) • The Assessor shall • be a member of the Board • join the accreditation visit as an observer • in consultation with the Visiting Team Chairman make recommendations to the Board for an accreditation decision • carry the role in ensuring consistency of recommendations

17. (3) The Accreditation Process (Cont.) Pre-Accreditation Visit • Programme documentation prepared by the university are sent to the Assessor and all Team Members • Documentation are studied and additional information may be requested from the university, if required • Team Members and Assessor hold pre-visit meeting(s) • refresh on accreditation criteria • review/discuss documentation & correspondence • identify areas of concern/focus

18. (3) The Accreditation Process (Cont.) Sample Accreditation Visit Schedule Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday 9:00am Meet with Dean, Head and key staff Meet with President, Dean and Head Review of student work e.g. assignments examination question papers and answer scripts, lab reports etc. Meet with staff responsible for major elements of the programmes 10:00 11:00 - ditto - - ditto - Private team meeting and Executive Summary Session 12:00 Private team meeting Lunch with staff, advisory board members and employers 1:00 pm Lunch Meet with students and recent graduates 2:00 Visit to Department facilities (laboratories, Computer facilities etc) Reserved for further accreditation activities of visiting team 3:00 4:00 - ditto - - ditto - Visit to University facilities(e.g Library, Language Centre) 5:00 - ditto - Pre-Visit Team Meeting 6:00 - ditto - - ditto - 7:00 - ditto - 8:00 9:00

19. (3) The Accreditation Process (Cont.) Post-Accreditation Visit • Preparation of Visiting Team Report by the Team Chairman and Team Members • Forward Visiting Team Report to university for response • University forwards response on the Visiting Team Report to the Visiting Team and the Assessor • The Assessor and the Visiting Team Chairman prepare accreditation decision recommendation to the Accreditation Board for consideration

20. (4) Accreditation Decision • The Accreditation Board Decision • Board members declare their interest and in some cases, the Board members concerned may be asked to excuse themselves. • The Visiting Team Chairman presents the Visiting Team Report to the Board • The University presents a summary of the programme and response to the Visiting Team Report • Questioning by Board members • The Assessor presents accreditation decision recommendation to the Board for discussion • The Board renders accreditation decision • The Board Deputy Chairman reviews decision for consistency. The Board finalizes decision

21. (4) Accreditation Decision (Cont.) Provisional Accreditation -- for developing (new) programmes not yet have any graduates. It indicates that the programme is well structured and has a good chance of receiving full accreditation in the future Full Accreditation -- may be granted, with or without conditions, for a maximum period of up to five years to programmes with graduates Accreditation Refused or Withdrawn -- if the programme is seriously at variance with the criteria

22. An accreditation term may be less than five years: to bring the accreditation period of a programme in line with the accreditation cycle of other programmes within a faculty/department; or although the programme conforms to the HKIE accreditation criteria, the Board is not completely satisfied with some aspects of the programme and wishes to see certain conditions met. an initial accreditation period of 2 or 3 years may be granted and the university will take action to meet the stipulated conditions. Accreditation period may be extended for a further 3 or 2 years upon receiving a satisfactory report. the Board will determine if a written report (evidence) from the university, or if a revisit will be necessary. (4) Accreditation Decision (Cont.)

23. Traditional educational practices focus on "inputs" or “activities”. Students are exposed to a segment of the curriculum over a specified time. At the end of the specified period, an examination is given, and grades are assigned. Whether all students have attained the level of competency (attributes) expected is not emphasized. Input-Based Accreditation

24. Outcome-based education is the recent generation of educational practices that has been adopted by institutions in many developed countries. An outcome-based programme specifies the "outcomes" students should be able to demonstrate upon graduation. It focuses on educational experiences that will develop the desired attributes of students and graduates (e.g. design capabilities, engineering knowledge, communication skills etc.) Outcome-Based Accreditation

25. Outcome-based education goes beyond ‘structured tasks’ (e.g. memorization, classroom exams). Students are required to demonstrate their skills through more challenging tasks such as writing proposals, completing projects, analyzing case studies, preparing case presentations etc. Design curriculum backward by focusing on the major desired outcomes (attributes) and linking teaching and assessment decisions to these outcomes. Outcome-Based Accreditation

26. HKIE has taken a decision to migrate to an outcome-based model of accreditation. The revised accreditation criteria, including the desired attributes of graduates, has been approved by the Accreditation Board. Aim to finalize all documentation by 2009, ahead of the delivery of the new 4-year undergraduate programs in 2012. Outcome-Based Accreditation

27. Tentative Timetable: 2010 and 2011 will be transition years. During this period and at the discretion of the university, a new 3-year undergraduate programme may be submitted for accreditation either under the existing HKIE criteria or the new outcome-based criteria. Full implementation of the new Outcome-based accreditation criteria in 2012 for all of the new 4-year undergraduate programmes. Outcome-Based Accreditation

28. Thank You !