Panel session - reflections on international accreditation

Program accreditation in computing, engineering, and technology has many international dimensions. Governments around the world have established agencies or commissions to monitor accreditation activities and professional societies and agencies have undertaken the task over many years. In the 2007–2008 academic year, ABET has stayed its “substantial equivalence” designation and has now engaged in formal accreditation activities beyond the United States. This panel seeks to explore and to present first-hand information regarding the issues and complexities surrounding international accreditation activities and report on their experiences in doing ABET international accreditation. Several panel members, many of whom serve on ABET committees that address these matters and have conducted international accreditation visits, will comment on their experiences, within confidentiality limits. The presentation will focus on the philosophical as well as the practical aspects of accreditation activities outside the United States.