Optimization of Quality Assessment and Evaluation Approach for Engineering Program Accreditation

Abstract

In this work, a new assessment and evaluation method for program and course learning outcomes is presented. This method was developed for Electrical Engineering (EE) program at Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University to meet the ABET criteria dealing with the new student outcomes one through seven. In the proposed method, course learning outcomes (CLOs) are linked to program learning outcomes (PLOs) via a set of performance indicators (PIs) to convert CLO-based assessment data to PLO-based data. The main objective of this work is to establish performance measures of learning outcomes for ABET’s outcomes-based assessment and evaluation requirements. Direct and indirect assessment were used to collect data, evaluate the obtained performance, and propose some corrective action plans to overcome low performance where ever necessary and validate and apply the proposed actions for the continuous improvement process. At the course level, the proposed approach to evaluate student performance, including the use of a CLOs assessment approach and summary of course assessment form is described. The exit and course evaluation survey results are used as an indirect assessment and compared with direct assessment results. Globally, the proposed method claims to be a contribution to the use of assessment approaches and is beneficial for all engineering programs seeking to meet accreditation criterion.