>>> Message from the past President
－Toward the Next Stage－
June, 2005
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New Appointment
At the Board Meeting of JABEE held on June 21, 2005, I was appointed as the successor of Dr. Hiroyuki YOSHIKAWA, who had served as the first president of JABEE since 1999. Dr. Yoshikawa has been the leader of the academia-industry-government collaboration that established and operated JABEE since the initiative started ten years ago. Following JABEE's successful introduction of an accreditation system to Japanese engineering education and its accession to the Washington Accord as a signatory member, he decided to resign and passed the responsibilities of president to me. Dr. Yoshikawa will continue to support JABEE's activities as our Founder Advisor.
The foundation stage of JABEE's evolution is definitely over. We have to proceed to the next stage, in which our system gains more maturity and establishes greater confidence among students, faculties and industries. I would like to ask for your cooperation in achieving our mission and goal.
As a new signatory to the Washington Accord
The Washington Accord (WA) is the framework that recognizes the substantial equivalency of accreditation systems of organizations holding signatory status and of the engineering education programs accredited by them. Each signatory is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that represents a country or an economy as the accreditation agency of engineering education.
To join the WA as a signatory has been an essential part of JABEE's objectives since its foundation. JABEE successfully applied for provisional status at the 2001 WA Meeting in South Africa, gaining unanimous support, and solicited a formal review for full membership at the 2003 WA Meeting in New Zealand. The WA nominated three reviewers (Canada/chair, USA and NZ) and sent the team to inspect our review process (three universities, November 2003) and decision-making process (Accreditation Commission, April 2004). The team submitted a review report to the WA in January 2005 recommending that we be granted signatory status.
JABEE's application for signatory status was discussed among signatory members at the 2005 WA Meeting in Hong Kong. They unanimously approved the admission of JABEE as a signatory based on the review report and the short progress report presented by Prof. Itsuo OHNAKA before the discussion. The substantial equivalency of JABEE accredited programs to those of other signatories became effective on June 15, 2005.
JABEE is deeply grateful to the signatories for their advice and support throughout the process of designing, implementing and improving our accreditation system. ABET and IEAust helped us from a very early stage based on the Memorandum of Understanding. CCPE and IPENZ encouraged us by writing a letter recommending that we be granted provisional status. JABEE is indebted to all the signatories for their assistance in sending instructors to train reviewers and observers to improve our systems. Now JABEE is a member of the signatories and is committed to reciprocating the support we received. As the first signatory representing a non-English-speaking country, JABEE would like to share our experience with the accreditation organizations that wish to join the WA. The map below shows the present members of the WA.
The tasks we face
During the six years since its foundation, JABEE has been running fast to introduce, implement and improve the first professional accreditation system in Japan. The three basic accreditation documents (criteria, self-inspection report, procedures and methods) have been revised every year for improvement. This continuing cycle of revision is rather unpopular among the universities preparing for application, but it is the driving force that is making our system mature with a speed that is admired in the global arena.
The foundation stage or running stage is, however, over. We now have to step forward with more sureness and confidence. The present Board of Directors (2005-2007) will accomplish the following tasks for making the foundation of JABEE's activities more solid and reliable.
(1) Continuing Improvement of Accreditation System
In 2005 JABEE expects more than 150 programs to be reviewed (including interim reviews), and the number is expected to peak soon. JABEE's past efforts to cope with increasing numbers of applications have been successful so far, but now our efforts should be shifted to improving the satisfaction of students, faculties, reviewers and industries. Satisfying all the constituents is our next target.
(2) Enhancing Collaboration with Industries
Understanding and recognition of JABEE among industries are still low, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises. To disseminate the merits of accreditation, the "Academia-Industry Collaboration Platform" has been introduced by JABEE as an initiative for frank communication between both parties.
(3) Preparation for Accreditation of Master's Programs
On average, 30% of engineering graduates go on to study Master's programs. This figure exceeds 70% in leading research universities. Industries urgently seek quality assurance for Master's programs. JABEE started a feasibility study three years ago and is about to complete criteria for several disciplines. We will finish the preparatory work, including pilot accreditation, by the day when the domestic as well as the global environment demands the accreditation of Master's programs.
(4) Promotion of International Collaboration
JABEE is willing to bear the responsibility as a signatory to the WA. We have been concentrating on the training of reviewers for domestic needs. We now sense further needs to train future mentors and reviewers to participate in WA activities.
(5) Conducting Self-Inspection and External Evaluation of JABEE for Further Improvement
Five years have passed since JABEE conducted its first accreditation in 2001. It is time to self-inspect JABEE's system and complete a PDCA cycle to ensure continuing improvement. Internal and external evaluation committees are to be established. What shall be the outcomes by which JABEE's performance can be properly evaluated? We will begin this discussion simultaneously.
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