Ingenieur Vol.72 ingenieur October 2017-FA3 | Page 44

INGENIEUR Engineering Technology Programme Accreditation By Ir. Associate Professor Adnan Zulkiple, Noor Azizan Itam Associate Directors, Engineering Technology Accreditation Council and Ir. Associate. Professor Abdul Aziz Omar, Director, Engineering Accreditation Department T echnology education has evolved and is very much subjected to the demands of industry. Engineering technolog y programmes are oriented toward application, and provide students with mathematics and science courses and a qualitative introduction to engineering fundamentals and applied sciences. Students are exposed to almost similar courses of those of the engineering curricula but vary in the distribution of theories and hands-on skills. In other words, their areas of interest in education are typically application-oriented, and are somewhat less theoretical and contain fewer mathematical element s than their other engineering counterparts. Recognising this impact in the engineering services sector, the Registration of Engineers Act 1967 (Amendment 2015) has included engineering technologist and engineering technician (Inspector of Works) as regulated engineering profession services. The qualification requirement which is the pre-requisite for the registration of an engineering technologist is stated under Section 10C(1): “A person who holds any qualification which is recognised by the Board shall be entitled on application to be registered as an Engineering Technologist”. The qu alification requirement which is the pre-requisite for the registration of an inspector of works is stated under Section 10E; “A person who holds any qualification which is recognised by the Board shall be entitled on application to be registered as an Inspector of Works”. The Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) conducts accreditation of engineering technology education programmes offered by institutions of higher learning (IHLs) as accorded by the Act and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) 6 42 VOL 2017 VOL 72 55 OCTOBER-DECEMBER JUNE 2013 Act. The accreditation process is managed by its delegated body, the Engineering Technology Accreditation Council (ETAC). The ETAC Manuals 2015 and 2016 laid out a guide for the IHLs to comply with to ensure that their programmes meet the accreditation criteria. Objectives of Accreditation by ETAC The objective of accreditation is to ensure that graduates of the accredited engineering technology and technician education programmes satisfy the minimum academic and practical requirements for registration as engineering technologists and technicians/inspectors of works with the BEM. In order to facilitate the IHLs to meet the minimum standard stipulated for the accreditation of their existing education programmes as well as proposed new programmes, the ETAC has produced the Engineering Technology and Engineering Technician Education Programme Accreditation Manuals 2015 and 2016, respectively. The manuals outline details for accreditation of engineering technology and engineering technician education programmes in Malaysia. There are four main components of accreditation that are being given focus by the ETAC; 1. Depth and breadth of the curriculum • Ensuring the expected engineering te c hnician e duc at ion level i s maintained. • How the programme structure and course contents are appropriate to, consistent with and support the development of the range of intellectual and practical skills and attainment of the programme outcome.