Exemplary Program Evaluation and Review Technique (EXPERT) using projects

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology's (ABET's) accreditation reform effort designed to foster effective "program evaluation" uses a set of criteria. This method allows programs to be flexible to many stakeholder needs. It also allows them to innovate while still maintaining a strong emphasis on educational quality. This process accreditation philosophy encourages "student outcomes" over mere "program inputs". The outcomes philosophy encouraged constructive interaction with program stakeholders to maintain competitive quality and relevance. Program Evaluation and Review Technique is outcomes based evaluation to examine the outcomes of projects and processes used in implementing student learning for accountability, effectiveness and continuous quality improvements. ABET uses all the seven items suggested below as indicators of "Program Evaluation", as a process. However, the reserved acronym for project evaluation and management is, "Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)". This paper addresses an Exemplary "Program Evaluation and Review Technique" (EXPERT) using projects, for the evaluation of outcomes and implementation of quality. Using an effective student project development from inception to implementation, the evidence is shown that, "outcomes assessment and the implementation of quality processes using student projects' learning outcomes are producing the desired innovation in educational programs".