The State Of Engineering Program Accreditation And Quality Assurance In Latin America
- Conference
- Location
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Publication Date
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June 22, 2008
- Start Date
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June 22, 2008
- End Date
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June 25, 2008
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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International
- Page Count
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10
- Page Numbers
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13.1267.1 - 13.1267.10
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--4255
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/4255
- Download Count
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333
Paper Authors
Jaime Salazar Ibero-American Association of Engineering Education (ASIBEI)
Jaime Salazar Contreras is Executive Secretary of the Ibero-American Association of Engineering Education (ASIBEI) and the Colombian Engineering Education Society (ACOFI). He teacher at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Jorge Ignacio Velez Munera Universidad Sergio Arboleda, ACOFI
Jorge Ignacio Velez Munera is an officer of ACOFI, an officer of LACCEI, and the Dean of Engineering at the Universidad Sergio Arboleda in Colombia.
Maria M. Larrondo Petrie Florida Atlantic University
Maria Larrondo Petrie is Professor of Computer Engineering and Associate Dean of Academic and International Affairs in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University, USA. She is Executive Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions (LACCEI). She also serves as Vice President of the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies (IFEES). She is on the boards of the Minorities in Engineering Division and Women in Engineering Division of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), and in the past has served on the board of the International Division. She is a Past President of the Upsilon Pi Epsilon International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
The State of Engineering Program Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Latin America
Abstract Engineering program accreditation and international recognition of its accrediting body is critical to degree recognition, to facilitate credentialing of the graduates of the program, and to permit mobility of the engineer. This paper looks at the countries in Latin America and the state of Engineering program accreditation in their region.
Introduction Accreditation systems are the materialization of quality doctrines and criteria both for programs and university institutions. Appraisal methodologies and quality measurement of engineering teaching and education were created in USA and Europe some decades ago. During the 90s some Latin American countries created appropriated legal environments that in turn gave origin to what nowadays we understand as a quality culture, which included its interpretations as auto- evaluation for continuous improvement and quality assurance, also referred as accreditation processes. Accreditation is a form of auto-regulation and it is an essential mechanism to sustain a responsible professional practice. Accreditation may be understood as a service for students, professors, institutions, education authorities, professional associations, fellowships, employers, and for society in general. Auto-evaluation is the fundamental essence in the system.
The Asociación Iberoamericana de Instituciones de Enseñanza de la Ingeniería (ASIBEI – in English: Iberoamerican Association of Engineering Education Institutions) published a book on the state of accreditation of the Iberoamerican Engineer in 2003[1]. International recognition of the engineering degree and mobility has grown in importance, and an international register for professional engineers has emerged[2]. Although no Engineering accrediting agency in Latin America has signed the Washington Accord, some have signed agreements with signatories, and some engineering institutions have sought substantial equivalence by undergoing evaluation by internationally recognized accrediting agencies. The rapid changes occurring in the region warrant an update to the state of Engineering program accreditation in the region.
Figure 1. ASIBEI publication: Culture, Profession and Accreditation of the Iberoamerican Engineer
Salazar, J., & Velez Munera, J. I., & Larrondo Petrie, M. M. (2008, June), The State Of Engineering Program Accreditation And Quality Assurance In Latin America Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--4255
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