About Us

Program Accreditation

In Australia, accreditation of undergraduate engineering programs is the responsibility of Engineers Australia.

 Accreditation ensures academic institutions consistently meet national and international benchmarks, and engineering graduates of an accredited program are assured membership with us at the relevant career grade, and enjoy reciprocal privileges by equivalent professional bodies overseas.

International recognition is offered by countries such as the USA , United Kingdom , Hong Kong (SAR), New Zealand , Canada , South Africa and others that are co-signatories to international agreements on joint recognition.

The Washington Accord and the Sydney Accord recognise the substantial equivalence of accreditation systems and accredited programs across international boundaries at the Professional Engineer and Engineering Technologist levels respectively.

Learn More About

Accreditation Process

The primary objectives of the accreditation process are the maintenance of internationally benchmarked standards, the promotion and dissemination of best practice and the stimulation of innovation and diversity in engineering education.

Assessment of any particular academic program for accreditation is based on the following criteria:

• the teaching and learning environment;
• the structure and content of the program; and
• the quality assurance framework.

A generic framework for developing specific education outcomes for programs is provided in the generic attributes requirement of the Engineers Australia Accreditation Policy, and more specifically in the Stage 1 Competency Standards . The generic attributes recognise the broad nature of professional engineering practice in today's world.

The accreditation process does not prescribe detailed program objectives or content, but requires engineering education providers to have in place their own mechanisms for validating outcomes and continually improving quality.

Accreditation does, however, judge the appropriateness of educational objectives and targeted graduate capabilities, the integrity of the educational design and review processes and the means employed to deliver and monitor outcomes.

Accreditation Management System

Engineers Australia has developed two documented accreditation management systems setting out policy, criteria and guidelines for the accreditation of engineering education programs at the level of:

• Professional Engineer; and
  
•  Engineering Technologist.

These Accreditation Management Systems defining documents are intended as a resource for engineering education providers in the processes of planning, educational design, program review and continuous quality improvement. They are also intended to provide explicit guidance for the development of submission documentation in preparation for an accreditation visit.
The Accreditation Management System provides the definitive criteria, assessment and reporting framework for evaluation panels engaged in the accreditation process and for the Engineers Australia Accreditation Board in the process of decision making.

Accreditation Function

Accreditation involves an evaluation of undergraduate engineering education programs offered by universities and other educational providers and a judgment against designated criteria set down in accordance with the Engineers Australia accreditation policy. Consideration of engineering programs for accreditation is at the request of the specific educational institution and is not obligatory.

An accredited engineering education program is judged as providing satisfactory preparation for graduates to enter the profession in the appropriate career category and to gain admission to Engineers Australia in the grade of graduate Professional Engineer, Graduate Engineering Technologist or Graduate Engineering Associate.

Graduates of currently accredited programs are deemed to satisfy the Stage 1 National Generic Competency Standards defined by Engineers Australia for those commencing a professional career of engineering practice.

Benefits of Program Accreditation 

By providing an internationally benchmarked standard for judgment of undergraduate engineering education programs, the accreditation process publicly assures the competence of graduates and provides a guarantee of standing that is independent of the education provider.

This benchmarked reference is vital for educational providers, potential students, graduates and employers.

Accreditation is also a critical component of certification to governments, industry and licensing bodies.

The accreditation process and criteria provide a statement to governments and universities of the essential requirements and resources necessary for providing a program of engineering education.

Accreditation provides a basis for international comparability and reciprocal recognition, facilitating the mobility of engineering graduates.

Why Accreditation is needed?

The primary objectives of the accreditation process are the maintenance of internationally benchmarked standards, the promotion and dissemination of best practice and the stimulation of innovation and diversity in engineering education.

Assessment of any particular academic program for accreditation is based on the following criteria:

• the teaching and learning environment;
• the structure and content of the program; and
• the quality assurance framework.

A generic framework for developing specific education outcomes for programs is provided in the generic attributes requirement of the Engineers Australia Accreditation Policy, and more specifically in the Stage 1 Competency Standards . The generic attributes recognise the broad nature of professional engineering practice in today's world.

The accreditation process does not prescribe detailed program objectives or content, but requires engineering education providers to have in place their own mechanisms for validating outcomes and continually improving quality.

Accreditation does, however, judge the appropriateness of educational objectives and targeted graduate capabilities, the integrity of the educational design and review processes and the means employed to deliver and monitor outcomes.

Accredited Programs

Accreditation of engineering education programs is normally carried out every five years. Implementing Engineers Australia's accreditation policy is the responsibility of the Accreditation Board, which subsequently publishes listings of individual accredited programs. Current listings of accredited programs at the level of Professional Engineer, Engineering Technologist and Engineering Officer are available below.

• Accredited programs at the level of Professional Engineer (PDF 150kb)
• Accredited programs at the level of Engineering Technologist (PDF 69kb)
• Accredited programs at the level of Engineering Associate (PDF 33kb)

In order to confer eligibility for corporate membership at the level of Engineering Officer Engineers Australia sets requirements for the study content of an AQF Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree in Engineering program as a basis for attainment of the essential educational competencies at this level. These competencies are formally defined in the Stage 1 Competencies for Engineering Associate