Linking local attributes to global accreditation

Globalization of engineering is intimately linked to development of universally recognized graduate attributes and accepted accreditation processes. The accreditation "market" is dynamic and the proposed developments in Europe will place pressure on engineering educators in non-EU member countries to form alliances that allow their graduates to join the international engineering family. ABET's international influence is largely enabled through its membership of the Washington Accord (WA) and how its "new" outcome-based programs equip graduates for the international market. As in the USA all Australian engineering educators must be able to verify the outcomes of their teaching programs as part of their accreditation by demonstrating achievement of graduate attributes as well as measuring employability of their graduates. The paper traces the linking of graduate attributes, using national accreditation and regional agreements from the local to the global scene. It is concluded that there must be globally recognized core graduate attributes to allow local accredited institutions to prepare their students for their role in the world market.