The Role of Accreditation in Promoting Quality Assurance of Technical Education

This paper first examines the nature and scope of quality, and the different perceptions about quality, particularly as it applies to engineering education. The factors promoting quality in technical institutions are briefly reviewed, and the requirements of and expectations from engineers and engineering administrators in order to face the challenges of the next millennium are enumerated. Beginning with the pioneering efforts of ABET, USA, accreditation has established itself worldwide as the principal mechanism for quality assurance in technical education, and more and more countries are coming under the umbrella of the Washington Accord. The major differences between accreditation and recognition, in the Indian context, are brought out. Accreditation involves a two-stage process, self-assessment and peer evaluation; the essential characteristics of each are highlighted. Some recent ABET initiatives and Indian experiences are discussed.