Challenges of implementing outcome based engineering education in universities in Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper presents the challenges that universities in Bangladesh will face in shifting its traditional education system to outcome based education (OBE). While preparing for OBE implementation, the curricula need to be revised, and also the Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) as well as the Program outcomes (POs) are to be defined. Traditional education approaches based on direct instruction of facts and standard methods and has not emphasized on soft skills needed in jobs e.g. communication skills, interpersonal skills, analytical skills, working attitude etc. On contrary the basic tenets of Outcomes-based education (OBE) are described as being about shifting the focus of educational activity from “teaching to learning; skills to thinking; content to process; and teacher instruction to student demonstration”. Therefore the main challenges the universities in Bangladesh (BD) will face in the formulation of preparing curricula of engineering programs; assessment and evaluation for PEOs and POs. Bangladesh university of Engineering (BUET) is a reputed university in Bangladesh and a good number of experienced and highly qualified teachers are involved in teaching, research and consultancies. The nation expects that BUET will play a leadership role in bringing the change in our education system. If BUET successfully implements OBE, then other universities will be inspired to implement it.