BZU’s Mechanical, Electrical Engineering Programs earns ABET Accreditation
Birzeit University’s Mechanical and Electrical Engineering programs have earned the seal of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The two programs have been granted the accreditation for 6 years until September 2023.
ABET accreditation is a form of quality assurance for programs in the areas of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET-accredited programs are meeting the needs of their students, preparing graduates to enter their careers, and responsive to the needs of the professions.
The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Dr. Khaled Abaza said that the University submitted its Self-Study Reports (SSRs) in July 2015 to accredit the two engineering programs; electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. The reports, according to Abaza, show how well the program meets the established accreditation criteria in multiple areas including: students, curriculum, faculty, administration, facilities and institutional support.
“The ABET team visited the University in November 2016 and gave positive observations. The final decision has been recently received from ABET indicating that the two engineering programs have been accredited for 6 years period in addition to 2 years retroactive”, Abaza added.
The Dean pointed out to the importance of such accreditation to the university’s reputation, and its students’ excellence. “This accreditation is significant as it is a proof that a collegiate program has met the standards essential to produce graduates ready to enter the critical fields of applied science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. Graduates from an ABET-accredited program have a solid educational foundation and are capable of leading the way in innovation, emerging technologies, and in anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.”
ABET was originally established in the USA in 1932 and recently started granting international accreditation with over 3700 programs at more than 750 colleges and universities in 30 countries have received ABET accreditation.