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hose who are in technical education are aware that there is a need to assure quality of our education to international standards. This has become more important with increasing number of graduates seeking higher studies or employment in other countries. It is also important that for executing international contracts, Indian companies are in a position to assure that they employ engineers whose certification has international recognition. The recognition of engineering programs can be assured by becoming a full signatory to Washington Accord. It is not a straight forward path for India to become a full signatory. With continuously increasing number of engineering colleges in India, quality assurance becomes a tricky issue. This paper presents various efforts taken by Government of India to become a member of Washington Accord. It also presents some critical issues presented by mentors of Washington Accord to NBA so that India can advance towards Washington Accord. Finally, the author presents his own observations and suggestion to some of the critical issues that remain unresolved till date delaying the progress of becoming a full signatory to Washington Accord. What is Washington Accord? The Washington Accord was signed in 1989 by 6 countries. They are: Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, Ireland & the USA. It is an agreement between the bodies (In India, it is NBA and in USA it is ABET) responsible for accrediting professional engineering degree programs in each of the signatory countries. It recognizes the substantial equivalency of programs accredited by those bodies, 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. The Washington Accord covers professional engineering undergraduate degrees. Engineering technology and postgraduatelevel programs are not covered by the Accord. The “Sydney Accord” provides for the mutual recognition of technology programs. However, NBA does accreditation of postgraduate-level programs also in India. In other words, a NBA accredited ME program need not be recognized by the signatory countries. Undergraduate programs in Engineering technology (like B.Tech in Leather Technology) is not covered in Washington Accord. Even, B.Tech in Information Technology is under dispute. NBA is trying to convince Washington Accord mentors that
they are also equivalent to engineering degrees. India is neither a signatory to Sydney Accord nor a provisional member. Why India should become a full signatory of Washington Accord? Signatories have full rights of participation in the Accord; qualifications accredited or recognized by other signatories are recognized by each signatory as being substantially equivalent to accredited or recognized qualifications within its own jurisdiction. How can I find out if my program is recognized under the Washington Accord? The list of programs currently recognized under the Washington Accord can be searched by signatory country in their accrediting body's website. For example, let us find out whether an University of Auckland engineering degree in Electrical and Electronic in New Zealand is recognized under the Washington Accord. Ÿ Washington Accord website lists the
accrediting agencies links for various signatory countries. So, enter the following web address in a browser: http://www.washingtonaccord.org/Washingto n-Accord/Accredited.cfm Ÿ Click the link on Institution of Professional Engineers NZ.
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Ÿ Search Auckland University in the list. Ÿ You can see that the course is accredited since
1980 onwards. What if there is a break in term of accreditation? Students enrolling during a term of accreditation and continuing studies through to graduation without a substantial break will be deemed to have graduated from an accredited program. Which are the signatories of Washington Accord? Initial signatories are Australia (1989), New Zealand (1989), the UK (1989), Canada (1989), Ireland (1989) & the USA (1989). Other full signatories are Hong Kong(1995), South Africa (1999), Japan (2005), Singapore (2006), Taiwan (2007), Korea (2007), Malaysia (2009), Turkey (2011), Russia (2012). Provisional members include Bangla Desh, Germany, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Provisional Engineering Watch | August 2013