Case Studies and Applications of DAETE Model to Continuing Engineering Education

Abstract

The need to choose appropriate methods to ensure quality of continuing engineering education has been an issue of research and of practice for years. Several initiatives were undertaken in the last decades to define the methods of proper assurance of provision and delivery of continuing engineering education. The quality models for education and training have a large variety of approaches that have been applied to all different levels from primary schools to adult learning. Methods employed had no significant success with continuing engineering education due to the particular nature of the training. A proposal for a project was elaborated between universities in Europe and in the USA to develop accreditation procedures to ensure quality of continuing engineering education (CEE) centres. The project (DAETE)applied an adaptation of the EFQM (European Foundation Quality Management) descriptors to the specific contexts of CEE centres. The DAETE model had also been applied in other contexts like accreditation and classification of CEE centers and for training managers of CEE centers staff. The paper also describes these applications of the model in different contexts with emphasis on useful conclusions. Recommendations for the adoption of the EFQM model to organizations involved in education and training are made with the consequent adaptations.