Engineering Accreditation Board (EAB) joint accreditation visits
Published: 05/11/2021
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) seeking accreditation by three or more professional engineering institutions for a single programme or group of related programmes can request an EAB visit.
EAB visits are intended only for consideration of degree programmes against Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (AHEP) learning outcomes where the programmes put forward for accreditation have sufficient commonality to be sensibly discussed in a single set of meetings without devitation from the normal EAB visit schedule (an adapted version is used for virtual visits). They are designed for accreditation of degree programmes delivered in a single location (or via distance learning, or with a placement) where a university is both the delivery provider and the degree awarding body, and where there is significant commonality between programmes. If universities are requesting EAB visits with a broader scope, they must make this explicit on initial submissions and in accompanying emails; such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
EAB visits scheduled for autumn 2021 and spring 2022 will be held virtually. Visits in 2022 will be planned as virtual visits, with the option for PEIs to request that the switch to on-campus visits with at least 12 weeks notice.
The need to fit in visits postponed due the pandemic alongside the usual schedule of visits will put extra pressure on visit schedules for a number of years, therefore it is important to request visits as as early as possible. We suggest sending your request at least 18 months in advance.
It is very important that information requested from HEIs in advance of an EAB visit is submitted in full, on time and in a way which is easy for accreditors to access and navigate. Accreditors are volunteers, many of whom have busy day jobs in academia or industry, so need sufficient time to review submission materials and other information requested in advance of visits, including responses to pre-visit questions.
HEIs must ensure that they complete the appropriate submission documents, depending upon whether they are requesting accreditation against AHEP 3 or AHEP 4 learning outcomces.
Further information about EAB visits, including submission documentation, is available at www.engc.org.uk/eab