The EUR-ACE project for the Accreditation of Engineering Programmes and Graduates was prepared and proposed during the fall of 2004 to the European Commission (DG Education and Culture) as a development of the “European Standing Observatory for the Engineering Profession and Education” (ESOEPE). It was supported by funding from the Socrates and Tempus programmes.

The EUR-ACE project aims at setting up a coordinated European system for accreditation of higher engineering education, with the following main goals:

-          establishing the EUR-ACE “label”

-          improve the quality of educational programmes in engineering

-          facilitate trans-national recognition

-          facilitate recognition by the competent authorities

-          facilitate mutual recognition agreements

On March 31, 2006, the project outputs are presented to the public at a workshop hosted by the European Commission:

A1 – EUR-ACE Framework standards for the Accreditation of Engineering Programmes. The standards distinguish between First Cycle and Second Cycle degrees according to the Bologna process, but not between branches of engineering. (Published 17/11/2005)

C1 – Commentary on document A1 (published 17/11/2005)  

A2 – Organization and Management of the EUR-ACE Accreditation System. (Proposal published 07/12/2005)  

A3 – Financial plan, indicating that the system can be self-supporting within five years. (published 03/2006)  

B1 – Overview: Accreditation Procedures and Criteria for Engineering Programmes in Europe. (Published 18/05/2005, continuously updated)  

ENAEEs main purpose will be to build mutual confidence in systems of accreditation of higher engineering degree programmes within Europe and promote the implementation of accreditation practice for engineering education systems in Europe. It will participate in the creation and ultimately the administration of a European accreditation framework for engineering education programmes. In this sense, ENAEE will allow implementing the results of the EUR-ACE project.

ENAEE held its first General Assembly on March 30, 2006, in the offices of FEANI in Brussels. Mr. Pierre Compte represented EUROCADRES at the assembly. An administrative council, a president and a treasurer were to be elected. The Commission also participated through Peter van der Hijden (DG Education and Culture), who addressed the assembly saying that the label of ENAEE must be taken seriously and offer added value. On comparison with the EUR-ACE label, even more valuable and self running. The ENAEE must also use the “National Academic Contact points”, every country has appointed on person at one university as a contact to the Commission.

After a election procedure Prof. Giuliano Augusti was elected chairman and Mr. Philippe Wauters as treasurer. Mr. Christer Forslund, vice president of EUROCADRES and manager at the Swedish trade union Sif, was elected as member of the administrative council. Next General Assembly will take place in 6-8 months.  

The newly elected administrative council immediately focused on the future and decided to answer Call for proposal DG EAC 01/06, Higher Education Reform, even if the deadline is the 20^th of April. Name of the project: EUR-ACE implementation.

( http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/calls/0106/index_en.html)

On the 31^th of March a launch meeting took place at DG Education and Culture were the outputs of the EUR-ACE and the start up of the ENAEE was presented. Participants came from all European countries and also Malaysia. Peter van der Hijden acted master of ceremonies and Prof. Guiliano Augusti gave a welcome speech, after which he presented EUR-ACE accreditation in Engineering. Prof. Terry Mitchell of Universität Dortmund presented the EUROBACHELOR in chemistry and David Coyne (DG Education and Culture) spoke on European Quality Labels and the Europe of Knowledge.

On behalf of the EUROCADRES secretariat

Mats Pahlman