Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions

ConferenceTrack:  Engineering Education

Selection1:       Select one

Language:         English

Keywords:         Accreditation, Engineering Education Standards,

Incremental Quality Improvement, Capability Maturity Model

ContactTitle::    Dr.

ContactFirstName: Maria M.

ContactLastName:  Larrondo Petrie

University:       FLorida Atlantic University

Web:              http://www.eng.fau.edu

Position:         Associate Dean and Professor

Country:          USA

Email:            petrie@fau.edu

Fax:              561 297-1111

Title:

A Model for Assessment and Incremental Improvement 

of Engineering and Technology Education in the Americas

Abstract:

The European Union has strengthened the economy of its member nations

through, not only establishing a standard for money, but also a standard

for recognition of engineering education.  The Americas need the latter

standard to permit an engineer to practice across national frontiers, and

strengthen the economy of the Americas.  Having such a standard would allow

engineering institutions to form a consortium to offer or accept distance

learning courses originating from recognized institutions.  A first step

toward having a Union of the Americas for recognizing engineers, is moving

towards a mechanism for assessment and recognition of engineering

institutions.  In the United States, this accreditation is done by

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc (ABET), which also

evaluates international educational credentials and certifies equivalence

to ABET accredited programs to international institutions.  This evaluation

results in accreditation or no accreditation.

This paper proposes a new model for assessment and incremental improvement

of engineering and technology education in the Americas, called the

Engineering and Technology Education Capability Maturity Model.  The

proposed model classifies an engineering educational program as being in

one of five levels: initial (or chaos), repeatable, defined, managed or

optimized.  Achieving Level 5 would indicate that the program is ready to

undergo ABET or similar accreditation. The Latin American and Caribbean

Consortium of Engineering Institutions (LACCEI) could be a vehicle for

accepting this model, facilitating communications among peer institutions

at the same level, providing expertise from institutions one or more levels

higher to assist in the improvement of engineering and technology programs,

and providing the recognition of engineering institutions required to form

viable distance learning consortiums and true research and academic

collaboration among member institutions.

MailingAddress:

College of Engineering

Florida Atlantic University

777 Glades Road, SE-308

Boca Raton, Florida

Phone:

561 297-3899 (Direct)

561 297-2492 (Secretary)

Authors:

Maria M. Larrondo Petrie, petrie@fau.edu, Florida Atlantic University (P)