Five undergraduate courses in the UP Diliman (UPD) College of Engineering (COE) were evaluated by a team from the Philippine Technological Council-Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology (PTC-ACBET) as part of their accreditation process.
Accreditation signifies that both the quality of education and quality of graduates of these programs adhere to the standards established by the Washington Accord.
According to the International Engineering Alliance website, the Washington Accord “is a multi-lateral agreement between bodies responsible for accreditation or recognition of tertiary-level engineering qualifications within their jurisdictions who have chosen to work collectively to assist the mobility of professional engineers.”
The PTC-ACBET team assessed the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering programs.
During the accreditation site visit from Nov. 18 to 20, the 12-man team composed of industry experts interviewed program chairpersons and coordinators, University and college administrators, faculty members, quality assurance officers, students, laboratory personnel and support staff, and industry partners. They also inspected university and program facilities.
The team presented their findings during the exit meeting held at the David M. Consunji Theater of the Institute of Civil Engineering on Nov. 20. They relayed to COE administration and faculty the strengths and areas for improvement they found during the evaluation. This meeting is one of the final steps before the PTC-ACBET makes its accreditation decision.
According to COE Dean Maria Antonia Tanchuling, going through the accreditation has at least two benefits: it shows the COE faculty and administration which aspects of their programs need to be improved, and should the accreditation be approved, it allows the graduates of these programs to practice in other countries that have signed the Washington Accord.
“The accreditation means that they can practice in countries who are signatories to the Washington Accord. Their education is recognized in those countries,” Tanchuling said.
The results of the accreditation visit are expected to be released in 2026.