Page 153 - Educating the Engineer of 2020: Adapting Engineering Education to the New Century

Educating the Engineer of 2020: Adapting Engineering Education to the New Century
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11338.html

136 EDUCATING THE ENGINEER OF 2020

As Jack Levy (EUR ING Professor at the City University in the
United Kingdom) has said (2002), “While these components of com-
petence of professionalism are needed, the way they are acquired varies,
as does the point at which the national professional title is awarded . . .
[and] the length of the academic course may vary widely, from three
years to five or more years.”
In the following sections, current activities dealing with mutual rec-
ognition of accreditation of engineering degree programs, engineering
technologist degree programs, and the professional level for registered
engineering practitioners are summarized.

ENGINEERING DEGREE PROGRAMS

Washington Accord

The Washington Accord was signed in 1989 by the groups in Aus-
tralia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the
United States responsible for accrediting professional engineering de-
gree programs in their countries. The accord recognizes “substantial
equivalency” of the programs accredited by the signatories and satisfac-
tion of the “academic requirements for the practice of engineering at the
professional level.” The accord states that the “processes, policies and
procedures” used in the accreditation of academic programs are compa-
rable and “recommends that graduates of accredited programs in any of
the signatory countries be recognized by the other countries as having
met the academic requirements for entry to the practice of engineering”
(Washington Accord, 2004).
The Washington Accord has several limitations. First, it covers pro-
fessional engineering undergraduate programs but not engineering tech-
nology or postgraduate programs. Second, it does not apply to degree
programs accredited before signing by the accrediting body. Third, it
does not apply to degree programs declared or recognized as “substan-
tially equivalent” by the signatories. Finally, it covers only the academic
requirements of licensing, but not the actual licensing, which still varies
from country to country.
Interest in the Washington Accord has increased significantly since
it was signed in 1989. Two more countries have signed on since then
and are now full signatories: Hong Kong in 1995 and South Africa in

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