TABEE Accreditation

Background

Thailand Accreditation Board for Engineering Education (TABEE) is a standard for certifying the quality of engineering education programs that emphasizes educational outcomes (outcome-based education) with criteria for evaluating courses which teach and aim to produce graduates with desirable attributes according to the needs of employers in the industrial sector. TABEE evaluation process is based on the IEA Graduate Attributes and Professional Competency (GAPC) criteria under the Washington Accord which is a curriculum evaluation standard accepted by many countries as a comparison of the educational qualifications of engineering professionals as well as criteria that are closely compatible with the teaching and learning context in Thailand.

Why should engineering programs get TABEE accreditation?

• TABEE is a qualitative evaluation of curriculum management, focusing on goals and success (attainment) of curriculum management on educational outcomes.
• Program accreditation is a mechanism for promoting educational institutions’ quality of engineering education programs aiming to produce graduate engineers with desirable qualification according to the needs of society and industries.
• Graduates from the accredited programs are assured to meet industry and professional requirements. The curriculum will provide education that is related to industry’s need by mean of teaching and learning in the program curriculum.
• In engineering service mobilization and practice, engineers are required to have completed an engineering degree from an educational institution that has accredited educational quality standards according to principles accepted among cooperating countries.

What is TABEE?

• TABEE stands for Thailand Accreditation Board for Engineering Education.
• The Council of Engineers has established TABEE in 2015 to provide an alternative for educational institutions to voluntarily apply for program accreditation with the Council of Engineers.
• The criteria used based on international guidelines, the Washington Accord agreement and the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) of the United States as frameworks for determining procedures and methods for accreditation.
• TABEE has set the goal to obtain its Washington Accord (WA) signatory member status by 2025. Achieving the full member status, TABEE will be considered a National Accreditation Body in Thailand with world class international standards.
• The accreditation process will promote educational institutions by means of raising the standards of the curriculum to produce graduates with knowledge and capabilities to meet the needs of the rapidly changing industries and technologies.
• TABEE assessment system focuses on sufficiency and suitability of the program management according to criteria rather than counting the activities. TABEE emphasizes on the attainment goals of the program graduate outcomes.
• The educational institutions’ assessment will base topics specified in their self-assessment report.
• Currently, the regulated engineering disciplines courses or equivalent programs which are recognized by TABEE will acceptably be recognized by Council of Engineers in accordance its program recognition regulations.

Requirements to Apply for TABEE Accreditation

The Subcommittee on Accreditation of Quality Standards in Engineering Education (TABEE) has defined the objectives of the recognition process as follows.

1) To evaluate the outcomes and quality management of engineering educational programs in accordance with the principles of the International Agreement on Engineering Education.
2) To encourage educational institutions to provide proper teaching and education to students with continuous educational quality and knowledge development.
3) To communicate to those interested in studying in engineering disciplines, the public, and society and to ensure that the graduates from TABEE recognized programs have educational outcomes according to the desired qualification of professional engineering practitioners and in line with international agreements on engineering education.

TABEE Committee Members

Document and Procedure

Document preparation

The educational institution prepares the following documents:

1. Self-Declaration files, complete with details as per the sample degree accreditation documents, signed by an authorized representative along with the authorization documents.
2. Detailed Self-Declaration of the educational institution, Section 6, Appendices 1 – 5.
3. Checklist for degree accreditation of the field applied for, with complete details specified by the educational institution before submission to the Council of Engineers.
4. Submit the prepared document (Self-Declaration and Checklist) through the COE online system.

Program assessment process for accreditation

Step 1: Review the submitted document

The evaluation team will review the submitted documents. If the documents are complete and meet the specified criteria, the evaluation team will accept the application and schedule a visit to the educational institution. The educational institution will be asked to process a payment to cover the travel expenses for the accreditation visit.

If the submitted documents are incomplete or do not meet the specified criteria, the evaluation team may inquire additional documents or they may reject the accreditation application.

Step 2: Educational institution visit

The evaluation team meets with the institution and program executives, faculty responsible for the curriculum and the teaching. The evaluation team also evaluate the facilities, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, teaching materials, IT services, and quality assurance systems. For programs that have already been accredited by TABEE of Council of Engineers, the meetings are conducted electronically instead of site visit for evaluation.

Step 3: Evaluation result report

The evaluation team will present the result report to the Subcommittee on Degree Accreditation and the result report is process further for Council of Engineers approval.

TABEE Assessment Procedure

1. Application
   
   The educational institution submits a Self-Evaluation Report (SER) along with supporting documents and evidence through COE TABEE Service system via the link: https://service.coe.or.th/instituteAuthen/institutelogin
   
   For more information, please contact 1303 ext. 207 or 086-340-8571
   
   
2. Assessment Procedure
   
   • The evaluation team, appointed by the Subcommittee on Accreditation of Engineering Education Quality Standards (TABEE), reviews the Self-Evaluation Report (SER) of the educational institution for the curriculum, supporting documents, and other evidence.
   • The evaluation committee may request additional documents and evidence if the submitted documents are insufficient.
   • The educational institution is responsible for submitting the requested documents and evidence within the specified timeframe.
   • The evaluation committee will schedule a visit to the educational institution.
     
     
3. Consideration of the results of the accreditation of the Education Quality Standards
   
   • The evaluation team, together with COE staffs, coordinate the visit to the educational institution for accreditation assessment, then, hold joint meetings to assess the results of the accreditation assessment of education quality standards and prepare the result report.
   • The lead evaluator presents the accreditation results report at the Decision Meeting.
   • The Decision Meeting considers the details and explanations of the results of the accreditation assessment process and certifies the results of the accreditation.
   • The Accreditation Agency for Engineering Education Quality Standards (TABEE) sends result report of the accreditation of the Education Quality Standards to the educational institution.
     
     
4. Result appealing process
   
   • The educational institution may submit an appeal letter regarding the results of the accreditation of education quality standards and supporting documents to the Subcommittee on Accreditation of Engineering Education Quality Standards (TABEE) for review within 30 days from the date of receiving the notification of the accreditation results.
   • The Accreditation of Engineering Education Quality Standards (TABEE) Subcommittee reviews the appeal regarding the results of the accreditation of education quality standards based on the accreditation report and any additional supporting documents received within 60 days from the date of receiving the appeal request. This review is considered final.
     
     
5. TABEE accreditation cost
   
   • The application fee for the accreditation of engineering education quality standards is 68,000 Baht per program (sixty-eight thousand Baht).
     
     Note: Payment shall be made when TABEE issues an acceptance letter for the application for accreditation of education quality standards (by July).
     
     
   • The cost for the evaluation of engineering education quality standards is 140,000 Baht per program (one hundred forty thousand Baht).
     
     Note: Payment shall be made when TABEE issues a notification for the visit to the educational institution (by October)

Accreditation Criteria for the 2019 – 2024 Review Cycle

On May, 2019, the TABEE Committee approved a revised Accreditation Criteria, Policy and Procedure Manual for implementation in the 2019 – 2024 accreditation cycle. The revised Accreditation Criteria has been posted for the 2019 – 2024 accreditation cycle.

<2019 – 2024 Accreditation Criteria, Policy and Procedure Manual>

1. Application
   • Educational institution submits a requisition letter for program accreditation and Self-Evaluation Report(SER) together with supporting documents to Council of Engineer Thailand (COET) website at the link;
2. Program Evaluation
   • The program evaluator team, who appointed by Thailand Accreditation Board of Engineering Education (TABEE), evaluates program’s Self-Evaluation Report (SER) and supporting documents to conform with program outcomes and effectiveness of program quality management according to TABEE accreditation criteria.
   • In case of the program’s Self-Evaluation Report (SER) and supporting documents does not describe the program quality management according to TABEE accreditation criteria, the program evaluator team should be requested the additional support documents.
   • The educational institution should submit additional support documents requested by the evaluator team in time according to the schedule.
   • The evaluator team arrange an appointment to the program visit.
3. Consideration for Accreditation Result
   • The program evaluator team meet to consider program accreditation result and write the accreditation reporting according to the report template.
   • The program evaluator team leader presents the reviewed accreditation report to the TABEE committee in TABEE Decision Meeting. The TABEE Decision Meeting consist of TABEE Committee member, other program evaluator team leaders and the intervenor group.
   • The TABEE Decision Meeting consider and acknowledge the program accreditation result.
   • TABEE report the program accreditation result and report to educational institution.
4. Appeal Request
   • The educational institution, that is considered to decline or revoke accreditation result, may sent the appeal letter to TABEE for reconsideration of accreditation result within 30 days from the stamped receiving date of accreditation result letter
   • The TABEE shall review the appeal request by considering the additional factual documents submitted by the educational institution within 60 days from the stamped date of receiving appeal request. The decision on the appealed accreditation result is considered final.
5. The Accreditation Fee
   • Application Fee: 68,000 Baht/ Program
   • Program Visit Fee: 140,000 Baht/ Program

The program visit is a 2-days visit according to the prepared schedule and notifying letter for program visit, in case of program monitoring, program evaluator may consider only report review on progressive report or arrange 1-day program visit as it is appropriately needed. The evaluation team should perform as follows;

1. Reviewing teaching and learning course portfolio relating to basic engineering and specific engineering subjects that are taught by the program teaching staff for the knowledge content, homework, assignment, term report that are given to students during classes, and the class evaluation.
2. Meeting with Dean, program chair, program executives about schedule and activities of the program visit and listening to presentation about overview of the educational institution and program administration. Evaluators may ask for clarifying issues on program Self-evaluation report and program quality management.
3. Evaluating class teaching and learning, laboratory equipment, laboratory facilities, library, information technology support system, and academic environment as prescribed in TABEE accreditation criteria.
4. Interviewing program chair, teaching staff, laboratory staff and supporting staff for evaluation of program quality management, program teaching and learning to attain program objectives, program outcomes, and program graduate attributes for professional practice.
5. Interviewing program students (from all classes) to ensure program outcomes and program graduate attributes for professional practices. The program evaluator team should specify the number and academic condition of students required for the interview.
6. Interviewing program graduates to ensure program graduate attributes for professional practices, the number and condition of which are to be specified by the program evaluator team.
7. Interviewing program alumni who currently practice engineering profession in the industry to ensure program graduate attributes required for professional practices, the number and condition of which are to be specified by the program evaluator team.
8. During exit meeting, program evaluator team must wrap up program visit and inform to institutional executive, program chair and program executives as followings;
   • Steps towards accreditation reporting.
   • List of factual findings during the program visit. Detailed explanations or suggestions are not necessary provided.
   • Overview of preliminary opinion that the evaluator team may consider necessary.

In case of multiple-program visit on the same campus site, TABEE shall assign a designated subcommittee member to lead the program visit and meet with institutional executives for visiting schedule and activities. The appointment of multiple-program visit should not be more than 5 programs each time.

IEA Graduate Attributes and Professional
Competencies (Version 2021)

Schedule for program accreditation

TABEE AS A SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE COET

by Tatchai Sumitra, a member of TABEE Sub-committee

1.RATIONALE

Engineering education has undergone a tremendous change in the last two decades, the major one being the requirement for the engineering education to meet the Profession Recognized Standards. The International Standards demand for certain skills of new engineers and require that outcomes of graduates be assessed. To meet this challenge, an accreditation process for engineering education is needed in each jurisdiction in order to assure the quality of engineers working in the globalized Industry.

Recognized accreditation bodies are largely organized into two major groups according to different developments. The first group consists of accreditation agencies such as ABET(USA), JABEE(Japan), ABEEK(Korea), IEET(Taiwan) etc., which are independent accreditation bodies. The second group consists of independent accreditation units attached to engineering councils or institutions, such as Engineering Council UK, Engineers Canada, Engineering New Zealand, Engineers Australia, Engineers Ireland, Institution of Engineers Singapore, Board of Engineers Malaysia, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Engineering Council South Africa, Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, Pakistan Engineering Council, etc. The two groups have one thing in common: they are all non-governmental, non-profit and independent organizations.

Most of the engineering accreditation bodies in developed economies are members of two major associations: Washington Accord (International Engineering Alliance) and ENAEE (European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education). While the second is confined only to European nations, the first is a more open platform for all other nations around the world. There are of course other accreditation associations but they are of much lesser importance.

Being a member of the International Engineering Association, COET (Council of Engineers, Thailand) is naturally aiming at becoming a signatory (full member) of the Washington Accord in order to upgrade engineering education in Thailand to International Standards. COET has established TABEE as an arm to accredit engineering programs in Thailand. TABEE has started accrediting engineering programs since 2017. As of June 2020, TABEE has successfully accredited 7 programs from 3 universities, closely witnessed by several members of the Washington Accord at different occasion. With this positive accomplishment TABEE must proceed to expand and strengthen its organization to be a sustainable one that serve the Engineering community in Thailand.

This paper is an attempt to look at the way to achieve this goal.

2.TABEE AS A SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATION

International practice requires that an accreditation body be an independent and non-governmental organization. The most suitable position for TABEE is to be an accreditation unit within the COET because the COET is an engineering organization, with closer link to the Industry. The main objective of COET is the registration and regulation of engineers practicing in Thailand. With TABEE accreditation, the COET will meet the equally important objective of promoting the Engineering Education Research and Engineering Practice in the Country. If new engineers are better prepared for Industry, the regulation of engineering practice would be much better.

As a sustainable ORGANIZATION that comply with International practice, TABEE must aim at being a non-profit, non-governmental and independent organization within the Council of Engineers, Thailand. The VISION of TABEE is: a world class accreditation agency recognized by major international engineering accreditation associations such as the Washington Accord.

Most of the engineering accreditation bodies in developed economies are members of two major associations: Washington Accord (International Engineering Alliance) and ENAEE (European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education). While the second is confined only to European nations, the first is a more open platform for all other nations around the world. There are of course other accreditation associations but they are of much lesser importance.

The MISSION of TABEE is: to accredit university and technical institution programs in the disciplines of engineering and engineering technology at the bachelor’s (and, eventually, at the master’s) degree levels.

Being part of the Council of Engineers Thailand, TABEE falls into this category of accreditation bodies: independent, non-governmental and non-profit organization.

3.TABEE AS A SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATION

There are eight important issues that TABEE must address before attaining sustainability. They are elaborated as follow:

3.1 INDEPENDENT DECISION BY TABEE WITHIN COET

Under the Engineer Act B.E. 2542, all activities done within COET are subjected to approval by the Council of Engineers Board, including TABEE’s. Since its inception TABEE has operated with an acceptable degree of independency. The Board has never interfered with TABEE decision regarding accreditation of engineering programs. To emphasize the point the Board has sent an official letter to the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to assure the independence of TABEE within the COET. The fact has been acknowledged by the General Assembly of COET in June 2020.

3.2 CONTINUITY WITHIN COET

Another point of concern is the continuity of the TABEE passing from one Board to another. Under the above-mentioned Act the TABEE Sub-committee, like all other sub-committees, has to be re-appointed by the new Council Board every 3 year-cycle. A smooth transition is not automatic even though a disruptive transition is not likely to occur. As a solution, it is proposed that TABEE be restructured as a “Standing Committee” within COET, similar to the “Sub-committee on Ethics”. It can be done either by a change of the Engineers Act or by an addendum to COET Rules and Regulations.

3.3 INDEPENDENT DECISION BY TABEE WITHIN COET

TABEE must be relevant to the needs of engineering education and engineering practice in Thailand and in the modern World. Programs accredited by TABEE must satisfy the needs of Government, Industry and the students. TABEE accreditation exercises must help the universities to improve continuously on the programs.

3.4 PARTICIPATION AND RESPECT

TABEE must have participation and respect from all parties concerned: Government, universities and technical institutions, Industry, engineering societies, the Society etc. Voluntary participation by the four main parties are crucial and must be fostered.

Industry will participate with TABEE in many different ways. A TABEE Industrial Advisory Board is being set up to give a realistic vision of engineering profession development in the future and the skills required for new engineers. The Board will consist of high profile and prominent engineers and businessmen. The advices will help TABEE setting up a realistic accreditation policy.

Advisory Board for each engineering discipline will also help TABEE to develop better discipline requirements. Industry and engineering societies in specialized disciplines are expected to partake.

Most importantly, Industry will play a major role in accreditation by providing Program Evaluators who are real practicing engineers in that particular discipline.

Universities will take part in the accreditation process and will gain from it by having frank opinions from peers for the sake of a continuous improvement of the program.

The students will have their skills developed according to the needs of profession.

3.5 HIGH PERFORMANCE

TABEE must be a high-performance and lean organization based its operation on IT and modern technologies. TABEE’s secretariat must be small but highly qualified and well trained for the job. Advisors and Program Evaluators are solely volunteers from the Academia and Industry.

3.6 COST RECOVERY

TABEE must have an effective cost recovery operation in accrediting engineering programs. Since TABEE doesn’t have an annual budget and regular income, its sole revenues come from accreditation fees charged to the universities/technical institutions. The fee is set to cover the direct expenses and minimal overhead for each program. No profit is incorporated in the fee structure. It is estimated that the break-even point to provide TABEE with a financial sustainability is about 60 programs (out of the total 600+ programs offered in the Country) accredited.

3.7 TABEE FUND

Since TABEE didn’t have any initial fund or seed money to set up a workable and reliable accreditation organization, TABEE had to rely on the annual budget provided by the COET. This budget was very useful and timely but COET cannot provide this kind of funding on a regular basis. Some kind of financial sustainability is needed for TABEE to strengthen its capacity in the initial stage of its operation and to provide its service to Government, universities, the engineering profession and Industry. A practical approach to get this financial sustainability is to establish a “TABEE Fund”. This “TABEE Fund” will help TABEE setting up a functional organization and to develop most capable Program Evaluators by sending them to be trained at ABET USA, Taiwan, Engineers Australia, etc. It will also serve as a traveling fund for attending Washington Accord Meeting and for inviting “Mentors” and other full members from the “Washington Accord” to visit TABEE during the accreditation exercises, a mandatory activity before being accepted as a full member to the Washington Accord.

A well-coordinated campaign to seek donations from organizations, companies, individuals, etc. Should be designed. However, donations from organizations or individuals with potential conflict of interest should be avoided. A tentative target is estimated to be about 30 M฿ for the first 5 years of operation. After that the revenues from accreditation fees should be sufficient to provide TABEE with enough operating fund.

3.8 TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

TABEE must be a transparent and accountable organization. The operation of TABEE will be post-audited by an appropriate body to be set up when organization transformation in 1. is finalized.

4.PROPOSED ORGANIZATION

A proposed organization chart for TABEE is shown below. In this figure TABEE is an official unit within COET and is supervised by COE Board in policies and general administrative matters. There is a “non-interference agreement” between COE Board and TABEE in accreditation decisions, meaning that TABEE is independent in accrediting engineering programs.

The TABEE fund will be set up mainly by donation from the Industry and may be administered jointly by COET/TABEE/Industrial Advisory Board. Most of the fund will be spent on capacity building and strengthening of the accreditation system in the initial phase. The operating fund for TABEE will come from accreditation fees.

As for personnel, it is anticipated that in the next 5-6 years TABEE may have about 60 programs accredited and the secretariat may require around 10 staffs. All others will be volunteers from the Academia and the Industry.

5.CONCLUSION

TABEE is an organization that provides service for the Government, the students and their parents, the Industry and the Society. It has to be a non-governmental, non-profit and independent organization. TABEE provides accreditation service that is a third party and peer review. TABEE is a true Kalayanamitr of the engineering programs and not a faultfinding body. It will provide the programs the chance to improve their operation continuously. It can be seen as a label that assures that the structure, content and outcomes of an engineering degree meets Industry Recognized International Standards. TABEE is self-supporting and belongs to everyone in the engineering profession, thus needs participation and understanding from all parties concerned.

Washington Accord

Code of Ethics for the Engineering Profession

Work under progress…