Curricular Experiences Leading to the ABET Accreditation in the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Programs

Abstract

Accreditation processes not only recognize the high quality of curricular programs; they also guarantee their continuous self-improvement. This paper aims to socialize the curricular experiences in the Electrical and Electronics Engineering programs of Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogotá Campus) within the decade-long efforts to achieve international ABET accreditation in 2021. This work thoroughly describes the implementation of the CDIO curriculum design methodology and its subsequent transition towards a curricular assessment based on learning outcomes. The results of some qualitative studies regarding the perceptions of faculty and alumni are presented, as well as a detailed proposal of the skills to be developed in each year of the syllabus, establishing their level of implementation. Moreover, a detailed description is provided regarding the methodology adopted for measuring performance indices during four semesters and the main results of the assessment of each learning outcome. Finally, the main curricular challenges to be addressed over the following years within the Electrical and Electronics Engineering programs are described.