A sustainable framework for assessing the engineering accreditation council’s programme outcomes

The Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) has introduced Outcome-based Education (OBE) in its accreditation manual in 2005. Since then, the assessment of engineering programme outcomes has seen a new paradigm in its implementation. After over a decade of implementation, issues associated with the...

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Main Author: Liew, Chia Pao
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2019
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Online Access:http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/101676/1/LiewChiaPaoPSKA2019.pdf
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spelling my-utm-ep.1016762023-07-03T04:04:24Z A sustainable framework for assessing the engineering accreditation council’s programme outcomes 2019 Liew, Chia Pao TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) The Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) has introduced Outcome-based Education (OBE) in its accreditation manual in 2005. Since then, the assessment of engineering programme outcomes has seen a new paradigm in its implementation. After over a decade of implementation, issues associated with the assessment of programme outcomes are still prevalent among Malaysian Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs). The programme outcomes stipulated in the EAC’s accreditation manual serve as a benchmark for engineering programmes in Malaysia and other Washington Accord’s signatory countries. Despite this, most accreditation bodies do not stipulate any specific programme assessment model to allow for innovation and creativity among HLIs. Initial investigations underline the diversity of assessment model employed by the accreditation agencies in each member of the Washington Accord. This research investigates the characteristics of different types of assessment model and the reasons for adoption of a specific assessment model by the HLIs (RQ1). This is followed by investigating the challenges and drivers experienced by the HLIs, panel reviewers and academic staff in implementing these assessment models (RQ2). It applies the concepts of sustainable assessment and education that resonate with the definition of sustainable development defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development of the United Nations. In order to answer the research questions, a qualitative methodology comprising in-depth interviews with 18 participants and analysis of documents from EAC and two accreditation bodies in the Washington Accord were carried out. A constant comparative method via inductive data coding process was employed in identifying, analysing and reporting the emerging themes within the data. The analysed data was systematically organised using Strauss and Corbin’s 1990 paradigm model. The paradigm model highlights the need to: 1) adopt performance criteria for programme outcomes to improve constructive alignment; 2) adopt culminating assessment model for simplicity, effectiveness, reliability and sustainable efforts; 3) change the mindset and increase exposure to assessment among academic staff; 4) obtain support from accreditation body in providing trainings and reducing the workload of assessment; 5) engage in robust initiatives from HLIs in improving the implementation of outcome assessment; 6) work with committed and enthusiastic institutional leaders; and 7) provide reliable outcome-based support system. Hence a sustainable framework for assessing EAC’s programme outcomes was proposed based on these findings. 2019 Thesis http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/101676/ http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/101676/1/LiewChiaPaoPSKA2019.pdf application/pdf en public http://dms.library.utm.my:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:148974 phd doctoral Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Faculty of Engineering - School of Civil Engineering
institution Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
collection UTM Institutional Repository
language English
topic TA Engineering (General)
Civil engineering (General)
spellingShingle TA Engineering (General)
Civil engineering (General)
Liew, Chia Pao
A sustainable framework for assessing the engineering accreditation council’s programme outcomes
description The Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) has introduced Outcome-based Education (OBE) in its accreditation manual in 2005. Since then, the assessment of engineering programme outcomes has seen a new paradigm in its implementation. After over a decade of implementation, issues associated with the assessment of programme outcomes are still prevalent among Malaysian Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs). The programme outcomes stipulated in the EAC’s accreditation manual serve as a benchmark for engineering programmes in Malaysia and other Washington Accord’s signatory countries. Despite this, most accreditation bodies do not stipulate any specific programme assessment model to allow for innovation and creativity among HLIs. Initial investigations underline the diversity of assessment model employed by the accreditation agencies in each member of the Washington Accord. This research investigates the characteristics of different types of assessment model and the reasons for adoption of a specific assessment model by the HLIs (RQ1). This is followed by investigating the challenges and drivers experienced by the HLIs, panel reviewers and academic staff in implementing these assessment models (RQ2). It applies the concepts of sustainable assessment and education that resonate with the definition of sustainable development defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development of the United Nations. In order to answer the research questions, a qualitative methodology comprising in-depth interviews with 18 participants and analysis of documents from EAC and two accreditation bodies in the Washington Accord were carried out. A constant comparative method via inductive data coding process was employed in identifying, analysing and reporting the emerging themes within the data. The analysed data was systematically organised using Strauss and Corbin’s 1990 paradigm model. The paradigm model highlights the need to: 1) adopt performance criteria for programme outcomes to improve constructive alignment; 2) adopt culminating assessment model for simplicity, effectiveness, reliability and sustainable efforts; 3) change the mindset and increase exposure to assessment among academic staff; 4) obtain support from accreditation body in providing trainings and reducing the workload of assessment; 5) engage in robust initiatives from HLIs in improving the implementation of outcome assessment; 6) work with committed and enthusiastic institutional leaders; and 7) provide reliable outcome-based support system. Hence a sustainable framework for assessing EAC’s programme outcomes was proposed based on these findings.
format Thesis
qualification_name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.)
qualification_level Doctorate
author Liew, Chia Pao
author_facet Liew, Chia Pao
author_sort Liew, Chia Pao
title A sustainable framework for assessing the engineering accreditation council’s programme outcomes
title_short A sustainable framework for assessing the engineering accreditation council’s programme outcomes
title_full A sustainable framework for assessing the engineering accreditation council’s programme outcomes
title_fullStr A sustainable framework for assessing the engineering accreditation council’s programme outcomes
title_full_unstemmed A sustainable framework for assessing the engineering accreditation council’s programme outcomes
title_sort sustainable framework for assessing the engineering accreditation council’s programme outcomes
granting_institution Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
granting_department Faculty of Engineering - School of Civil Engineering
publishDate 2019
url http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/101676/1/LiewChiaPaoPSKA2019.pdf
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