The Canadian Engineering
Accreditation Board, a committee of the Engineers
Canada Board, is tasked with reviewing engineering programs across the
nation. Being accredited essentially means the education provided is
adequate for licensure as a professional engineer in Canada.
There's a wide array of groups lobbying the CEAB to reevaluate it's accreditation process, from QCESO to the Dean of Engineering. It's tough stuff.
All engineering programs at McGill were accredited in 2016.
How are we accredited
Evaluation of a program is based on an array of
accreditation attributes''. Each course at McGill is
independently quantified through these attributes, all contributing to
the programs overall weight. The curriculum content for each course can
normally found in a course syllabus at the beginning of the
semester.
The accreditation attributes all are intended to contribute to the
overallgraduate attributes'' the CEAB wants each
student to have at the end of their academic career.
For example:
-
-
MIME456 is deemed to teach students:
- 8 AUs in Mathematics
- 5 AUs in Natural Sciences
- 5 AUs in Complementary Studies
- 16 AUs in Engineering Sciences
- 10 AUs in Engineering Design
- Therefore, MIME456 contributes to the retention of KB, PA, IN, IT, and CS (see below)
-
MIME456 is deemed to teach students:
There's a whole hullaballoo of information out there on this, from Engineers Canadas robust document, to McGill's own breakdown. This version is far shorter
Criteria
- Mathematics: Minimum 195 AU
- Natural sciences: Minimum 195 AU
- Mathematics and natural sciences combined: Minimum 420 AU
- Engineering science: Minimum 225 AU
- Engineering design: Minimum 225 AU
- Engineering science and engineering design combined: Minimum 900 AU
- Complementary Studies: Minimum 225 AU
- Laboratory experience and safety procedures instruction
Graduate Attributes
Knowledgebase for engineering (KB): Demonstrated
competence in university level mathematics, natural sciences,
engineering fundamentals, and specialized engineering knowledge
appropriate to the program.
Problem analysis (PA): An ability to use appropriate
knowledge and skills to identify, formulate, analyze, and solve complex
engineering problems in order to reach substantiated conclusions.
Investigation (IN): An ability to conduct
investigations of complex problems by methods that include appropriate
experiments, analysis and interpretation of data and synthesis of
information in order to reach valid conclusions.
Design (DE): An ability to design solutions for
complex, open-ended engineering problems and to design systems,
components or processes that meet specified needs with appropriate
attention to health and safety risks, applicable standards, economic,
environmental, cultural and societal considerations.
Use of engineering tools (ET): An ability to create,
select, adapt, and extend appropriate techniques, resources, and modern
engineering tools to a range of engineering activities, from simple to
complex, with an understanding of the associated limitations.
Individual and team work (IT): An ability to work
effectively as a member and leader in teams, preferably in a
multi-disciplinary setting.
Communication skills (CS): An ability to communicate
complex engineering concepts within the profession and with society at
large. Such abilities include reading, writing, speaking and listening,
and the ability to comprehend and write effective reports and design
documentation, and to give and effectively respond to clear
instructions.
Professionalism (PR): An understanding of the roles and
responsibilities of the professional engineer in society, especially the
primary role of protection of the public and the public interest.
Impact of engineering on society and the environment
(IE): An ability to analyse social and environmental aspects of
engineering activities. Such abilities include an understanding of the
interactions that engineering has with the economic, social, health,
safety, legal, and cultural aspects of society; the uncertainties in the
prediction of such interactions; and the concepts of sustainable design
and development and environmental stewardship.
Ethics and equity (EE): An ability to apply
professional ethics, accountability, and equity.
Economics and project management (EP): An ability to
appropriately incorporate economics and business practices including
project, risk and change management into the practice of engineering,
and to understand their limitations.
Life-long learning (LL): An ability to identify and to
address their own educational needs in a changing world, sufficiently to
maintain their competence and contribute to the advancement of
knowledge.