ABET Accreditation
&
Lifelong Learning
Rajeev Bansal
.
Accreditation
• UConn EE and CMPE programs are
accredited by ABET.
• UConn EngrPhys program is relatively
small and has not been submitted for
accreditation yet.
ABET 2000: Basic Philosophy
• Institutions and Programs define
objectives to meet the needs of their
constituents
• Emphasis on outcomes -- preparation
for professional practice
• Programs demonstrate how outcomes
and educational objectives are being
met: assessment
What are Program Educational Objectives?
• Broad statements describing what our graduates should
be doing 3-5 years after graduation.
• Our alumni will:
• make technical contributions to design, development,
and manufacturing in their practice of EE/computer
engineering.
• Advance in their professional career.
• engage in professional development or post-graduate
education to pursue flexible career paths amid future
technological changes.
EE/CompE Program Constituents

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Undergraduate students
Faculty
Alumni
Employers of Program Graduates
Student Outcomes: ABET (a)-(k)
Engineering programs must demonstrate that their
graduates have:
a. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics,
science and engineering appropriate to the
discipline
b. An ability to design and conduct experiments,
analyze and interpret data
c. An ability to design a system, component, or
process to meet desired needs
Student Outcomes: ABET (a)-(k) (continued)
d. An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
e. An ability to identify, formulate, and
solve engineering problems
f. An understanding of professional
and ethical responsibility
g. An ability to communicate
effectively
Student Outcomes: ABET (a)-(k) (continued)
h. The broad education necessary to
understand the impact of engineering
solutions in a societal context
i. A recognition of the need for, and an
ability to engage in life-long learning
j. A knowledge of contemporary issues
k. An ability to use the techniques, skills,
and modern engineering tool necessary for
engineering practice
Student Outcomes & Assessment
• Demonstrate that graduates have
achieved desired outcomes
• Assess the level of outcome
achievement
• Apply results to continuous
improvement of program
Assessment Methods
(EE/CompE Program)
Direct:
 Senior Design Project Evaluation
 ABET Quiz (CSE/ECE 4901)
 Assessment in ECE 2001W and ECE 3201
Indirect:
 Alumni Survey data
 IAB feedback
 Senior Exit Interview data
 EBI Survey data
 Course Assessment data
Lifelong Learning
“In the new economy, you
graduate and you’re set for
fifteen minutes. Working
and learning are fast
becoming the same
activity.”
Don Tapscott, The
Digital Economy.
Source: l3d.cs.colorado.edu/ philosophy.html
Something to think about
“The illiterate person of [the future]
will not be the person who has
not learned how to read, but
rather the person who has not
learned how to learn.”
Soc. of Manufacturing Eng.
Lifelong Learning is not a new fad.
The first issue (1922) of Reader’s
Digest led with an article on the
importance of continuing to learn
throughout one’s life.
Author: Alexander Graham Bell
Half-life of Knowledge
• 7.5 years (ME)
• 5 years (EE)
• 2.5 years (CMPE)
(an expert estimate from the 1980s cited by Ernest
T. Smerdon, Lifelong Learning for Engineers:
Riding the Whirlwind)
Approaches to Lifelong Learning
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In-house training/seminars
Conferences & Workshops
Short Courses
Part-time graduate courses
Graduate School
Professional School
Self-directed learning
In-House Training/Seminars
• Common at large companies
• Almost always free
• Done on company-time
Conferences & Workshops
•
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•
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Join IEEE today!
Local Chapter Meetings
Regional Conferences
National Conferences
Workshops
Trade Shows
Short Courses
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Offered by universities (e.g., UCLA,
GeorgiaTech)
Offered by commercial organizations
Part-time graduate courses
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Evening classes
EE/CompE
Related fields (e.g., Materials Science)
Professional (e.g., MBA)
Graduate School
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MS-without a thesis
MS-with a thesis
MENG
PhD (research, academic positions)
Professional School
 Management (MBA)
 Patent Law (JD)
Self-Directed Learning
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Trade journals
Handbooks
Videos/DVDs
On-line resources
Lifelong Learning: The fun never
stops!