Engineering Accreditation is a standardized quality assurance mechanism for engineering education programs. Its primary function is to provide educational institutions with a unified standard to evaluate whether curricula are comprehensive and practical, ensuring that faculty, course content, student outcomes, and facility resources meet a certain level of excellence.
Yi-Xiang Sun, an overseas research fellow at DSET’s Democratic Governance Research Unit, pointed out that Taiwan’s low participation in engineering accreditation hinders its ability to attract international talent. Accreditation is not only about quality assurance but also a crucial pathway for global integration. In the field of engineering education, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in the United States is one of the most influential accrediting bodies, shaping global engineering education systems. Its standards cover subject knowledge, professional ethics, teamwork, and communication skills, emphasizing the implementation of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) in curriculum design.
Regarding Taiwan’s current state of engineering education accreditation, Sun noted that while Taiwan has joined the Washington Accord, the country’s leading accrediting body, the Institute of Engineering Education Taiwan (IEET), does not mandate accreditation, and its complex procedures have resulted in inconsistent participation across universities. Data from 2022 shows that accreditation rates in electrical and information engineering programs were only 13.35% in private universities, 13.69% in national universities, and just 5.13% in Taiwan’s top-tier universities— with a declining trend among elite institutions.
Sun further analyzed how the lack of accreditation affects international talent. Without accreditation, degrees from Taiwan may not be recognized internationally, limiting students’ ability to obtain professional certifications or pursue career opportunities abroad. According to case studies on IEET’s official website, unaccredited degrees may be unrecognized in certain countries, affecting graduates’ chances of taking licensure exams or securing overseas employment. Furthermore, in the context of Taiwan’s active efforts to attract global talent, the lack of accreditation could reduce the appeal of studying in Taiwan for international students.
Leading global institutions, including MIT and UC Berkeley, as well as top universities in Singapore and Malaysia, actively pursue engineering accreditation. Sun urged that accreditation is not just a certificate but a crucial means of demonstrating Taiwan’s commitment to international standards and transparency in engineering education. It should be seen as a strategic tool for enhancing Taiwan’s global influence.
The op-ed also put forward policy recommendations, emphasizing that if Taiwan aims to achieve its vision of becoming an “AI Smart Island,” it must acknowledge the critical role of engineering accreditation. Sun stressed that accreditation systems serve both as a mechanism for ensuring education quality and as a platform for facilitating international talent mobility. He called on the government and academia to prioritize international accreditation to build a more globally competitive engineering education environment in Taiwan.
Read more: https://futurecity.cw.com.tw/article/3622