1. Gulf Cooperation Council Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Report to the
GCC Dean’s Committee
Presented by
Dr. Samir Al-Baiyat
on behalf of the
GABET Committee

2. GABET Committee Report
Dr. Andrew J. Wilson, University of Qatar
Dr. Ahmet Yigit, Kuwait University
Dr. Isa Qamber, Bahrain University
Dr. J. Richard Williams, United Arab Emirates University
Dr. Samir Al-Baiyat, King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals
Dr. Waleed Abu Farag, King Abdulaziz University
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

3. GABET Committee Report
Outline
Review of Committee purpose
Summary of Committee activities
Committee Report
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

4. GABET Committee Report
Committee Purpose
Prepare report on the reasons and goals for the formation of a academic accreditation board that would include the previous experience of other universities already accredited
Prepare for a workshop on academic accreditation to be held in parallel with any of the future meetings and coordinate with other international accreditation boards
Report to the GCC Dean’s Committee in order to present this to the GCC University Presidents
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

5. GABET Committee Report
Committee Activities
Attendance at ABET Meeting in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA from October 31 to November 1, 2002
Ongoing communication the Executive Director of ABET
Contact with representatives from JABEE, ABEEK, RAEE
GABET Committee meeting in Dubai, February 26-27, 2003
Preparation of report and presentation
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

6. GABET Committee Report
Introduction to ABET’s international accreditation activities
Background information
GCC Accreditation Board
Initiating GABET
Conclusions and recommendations
Workshop and conference plan
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

7. GABET Committee Report
Introduction
Purpose and function of accreditation
International recognition of quality
External uniform and objective measures and evaluation
Promote continuous evaluation and improvement
Accreditation by ABET in the GCC
Established practice
“Substantial Equivalence”
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

8. GABET Committee Report
Introduction
Direction of ABET
Limiting international accreditation activities
Promoting mutual agreements with other international accreditation agencies
Need for GABET
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

9. Background Information
GCC Universities with ABET “Substantial Equivalency”
Kuwait University
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
United Arab Emirates University
King Abdulaziz University
Other GCC universities actively seeking accreditation
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

10. Background Information
ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)
Accrediting programs for 75 years
Over 500 different programs at over 170 colleges and universities visited each year in the US
Operated and governed by member professional societies
International activities coordinated by International Activities Committee (INTAC)
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

11. Background Information
ABET Criteria
Engineering Criteria 2000 (EC 2000)
Fully implemented for engineering programs in US
International implementation to be fully phased in by fall of 2004
Outcomes based assessment and continuous improvement
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

12. Background Information
ABET Organization
Four commissions
Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC)
Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC)
Computer Accreditation Commission (CAC)
Applied Science Accreditation Commission (ASAC)
Operated by professional societies with unpaid personnel
Commissions responsible for:
Development of accreditation criteria
Evaluation of programs
Recommendation of accreditation actions
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

13. Background Information
International agreements of ABET
Bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOU)
Canada – bilateral agreement
Washington Accord agreement
Original agreement between accrediting agencies of English speaking countries
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

14. Background Information
ABET international activities
Focusing primarily on US accreditation
Seeking to limit accreditation (“Substantial Equivalency”) of individual international institutions
Promoting agreements of mutual recognition with international accrediting bodies
Bilateral agreements
Washington accord
Promoting development of international accrediting bodies
JABEE
ABEK
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

15. Background Information
Summary of GCC ABET Activities
Attendance at ABET Annual meetings
Attendance at Istanbul ABET Workshop
Preparation for Conventional and EC 2000 visits
Preparation for and hosting of consultative and accreditation visits
Participation in program evaluator training
Presentation of papers on accreditation, outcomes assessment, and continuous improvement
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

16. Background Information
Conditions in the GCC
Unlikely that each country has the ability to establish individual accreditation agencies
Insufficient depth and breadth to accredit all programs of each university
Only one or two universities in some countries
Regional accreditation board is warranted
Limitations
Lack of professional society development
Political and legal changes may be required
Lack of culture of professional volunteerism
Leadership and expertise must come from universities and industry
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

17. Background Information
Conditions in the GCC (continued)
Professional registration
Accredited degree is usually first step
Registration of engineers not practiced in GCC
Proposals have been made in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Institutional assessment
Self assessment is integral to EC 2000
Self assessment has been adopted by nearly all regional universities
Saudi Arabia and UAE have national institutional accreditation
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

18. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Purpose
Accredit programs within the GCC
Engineering
Technology
Computer science
Architecture
Enter into a MOU with ABET to develop GABET
Execute a bilateral agreement of mutual recognition with ABET
Eventually, become a signatory of the Washington Accord
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

19. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Organizing philosophy
Authority to accredit and recognition by GCC governments
Represent the engineering, technical, and professional communities it accredits
Balance between education and practice (university and industry)
Non-governmental and independent, free of vested interests
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

20. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Organization
Board of Directors
Executive Director
Engineering Commission
Computer Commission
Technology Commission
Architecture Commission
GCC Secretariat-
GCC Dean’s
National Committees
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

21. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Initial Organization
Board of Directors
Executive Director
Accreditation Commissions
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

22. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Board of Directors
Purpose
Executive body
Appoint Executive Director
Development and approval of constitution
Approves
Polices and procedures
Accreditation criteria
Accreditation actions of Commissions
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

23. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Board of Directors
Membership
Minimum of two from each GCC country – one from industry and one from academia
Nominated by national committee
Ratified by the accreditation commissions
Minimum of one international member who is a member of an international accreditation commission
Term will be three years with membership having staggered terms
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

24. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Board of Directors
Qualifications
Minimum BS degree in engineering, technology, computer science, or architecture
Distinguished experience and accomplishments
Serving on an accreditation commission
Served as a visit team chair and program evaluator
In countries where no accredited programs exist, qualifications will be waived as appropriate
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

25. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Executive Director
Appointed by Board of Directors
Full time paid position
Duties
Responsible for administrative funtions
Carry out polices and directives of the Board
Liaison to the public
Organize and coordinate meetings and conferences
Establish and operate office
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

26. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Executive Director
Qualifications
Experience in accreditation
Member of one of the professions
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

27. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Accreditation Commissions
Performs actual accreditation activities
Duties
Develop and maintain accreditation criteria, polices and procedures
Manage and operate the accreditation process
Evaluate programs and recommend appropriate accreditation actions
Provide information and training on accreditation activities
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

28. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Accreditation Commissions
Membership
Balance between practitioners (industry and government) and educators
Each country – one industry and one academic member for each accredited discipline within the country
Additional members will be granted to countries with more than one university with accredited programs
Approved by the Board of Directors
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

29. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Accreditation Commissions
Membership (continued)
Qualifications
Minimum BS degree in engineering, technology, computer science, or orchitecture
Distinguished by experience and credentials to merit respect by peers
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

30. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Visit Team
Recommendations to achieve ABET equivalency
Headed by Team Chairman – member of appropriate Accreditation Commission
Team chairman will present the team report to the Accreditation Commission
One program evaluator for each program being evaluated
Program evaluator must have ABET or GABET training and have served as an observer
At least one member of the team shall be from ABET
If no GABET program evaluators are available, an ABET evaluator will be used
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

31. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Funding
Initially shared between the GCC Secretariat and the GCC universities
GCC universities will pay annual fees
GCC Secretariat will most likely need to fund startup costs and provide ongoing support
In future, professional societies may join as society members and pay fees
GABET office is recommended to be within the GCC Office Building in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

32. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Reporting and accountability
Financial accountability to GCC Secretariat
Annual report to Secretariat, University Presidents’ Committee and Deans’ Committee
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

33. GCC Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (GABET)
Training activities and conferences
Annual meeting
Conduct business
Training workshops
Conference on assessment and quality improvement
International faculty workshop
ABET to conduct every third year
Meetings to rotate throughout the GCC
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

34. GABET Committee Report
Initiating GABET
Establishment will require major commitment of time and expense
Report cannot provide complete blueprint, but only how to begin
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

35. GABET Committee Report
Initiating GABET
Process
GCC Deans’ and Presidents’ Committees agree on GABET concept
Proposal to GCC Secretariat for approval and funding
GCC Deans to “champion” GABET
Recognition by government ministries, national industries, and professional societies
Formation of national committee and nomination of initial Board of Directors representatives
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

36. GABET Committee Report
Initiating GABET
Process
Board of Directors
Seek an MOU with ABET
Establishment of constitution
Formation of commissions
Appointment of Executive Director
Development of detailed plan to fully develop GABET
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

37. Conclusions and Recommendations
The increasing demand for accreditation and ABET’s position on international accreditation make the formation of GABET a necessity
The GCC Deans’ Committee should revise and adopt the proposed plan to initiate GABET
May 6-7, 2003
GABET Committee Report

38. Board Policy on International Activities
Promote and develop bilateral & multilateral mutual recognition agreements.
Assist nations in developing their accreditation systems, and provide guidance in the implementation of continuous quality improvement in engineering education in other countries.

39. Board Policy on International Activities
Work with other quality assurance organization to develop regional capacity building.
Conduct substantial equivalency evaluations in countries where there is no national engineering accreditation body