A Fuzzy Mapping Approach for Evaluating Success Factors of ABET Accreditation

 Abstract — The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) provides the accreditation of the tertiary education programs in the fields of applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and technology. Although ABET accreditation is voluntary, graduates of the ABET-accredited programs are considered as equivalent in knowledge, behaviors, and attitude with global standards. In this study, the factors that affect the success of ABET process are evaluated, and their importance weights are determined. Causal links among the factors, positive as well as negative relations between pair of criteria, and lack of crisp data lead to employ fuzzy cognitive map as an appropriate methodology to assess success factors of ABET process. The application is illustrated through a case study, which is conducted in a university located in Turkey.