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Abstract

While Europe still lacks a common system for the accreditation of educational programmes, the Bologna process, now involving more than 40 countries, intends to establish a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) on the basis of ‘a system of easily readable and comparable degrees’. In this context, while recognition of professional qualifications is assured by European Directives (a new overarching Directive was published in September 2005), it is essential to ensure that educational programmes are accredited on a continental scale.

This paper illustrates the main outcomes of the EUR-ACE (EURopean ACredited Engineer) project, aimed at the establishment of a pan-European system for accreditation of engineering educational programmes on the basis of a multilateral, bottom-up agreement between national and regional bodies and Associations concerned, and the perspectives for its implementation.

Keywords

accreditation Bologna process engineering education European Higher Education Area trans-national recognition

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References

EUR-ACE Document A1: EUR-ACE Framework Standards for the Accreditation of Engineering Programmes; Document C1: Commentary on EUR-ACE Framework Standards …; Bruxelles, December 2005; http://www.feani.org/EUR_ACE/EUR_ACE_Main_Page.htm

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Accreditation of Engineering Programmes at European Level

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