ESOEPE
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PERMANENT STEERING GROUP
HELD ON 29 November 2001 AT THE FEANI OFFICES, BRUSSELS
Present: Mr F Tailly France
Dr I Wasser Germany
Dr Kruno Hernaut Germany
Mr P Wauters FEANI
Prof E Shannon FEANI
Mr A Ramsay UK
Miss H Vallier UK
1.1 Apologies were accepted from Prof K Fidler, Prof G Augusti, Prof A Squazoni and Prof F Lemos. In Professor Fidler's absence Mr Ramsay agreed to chair the meeting.
1.2 Mr Ramsay welcomed Miss Vallier to the Committee. He proposed Miss Vallier act as secretariat and co-ordinator to the Committee for a period of 6 months, after which time the cost of such services would be assessed.
1.3 Mr Ramsay welcomed Dr Wasser who had taken over from Dr Simsheuser as Director of ASII, and Dr Hernaut who was responsible for international operations at ASII.
2.1 The minutes were approved by the PSC.
3.1 Bye Law change recommendations as noted in item 1.2 of the previous meeting's minutes were to be noted at the next General Assembly.
3.2 The possibility of other interested parties being able to join the Observatory was queried. Mr Ramsay indicated that the Bye Laws stated in item 6 that participation to the Observatory was on a 'voluntary' basis with applications being submitted to the General Assembly via the PSC.
3.3 Due to time constraints, the joint conference to be held in Paris in January 2002 would not be taking place. It was agreed, however, that a 1-day workshop would be held in Paris on 12 March 2002. Mr Tailly agreed that CTI would organise the facilities for the conference. The workshop would be used as both a forum for discussion and as a platform to raise the profile of ESOEPE. Papers were to be prepared on 4 discussion areas: an introduction to ESOEPE and the website; bi-national accreditation programmes; life-long learning (an area in which the European Commission is gaining interest); and outcomes versus content. ABET was to discuss similar issues at their conference in autumn 2002 therefore ESOEPE would provide the workshop delegates with an early opportunity for their discussion in a European context. A pre-announcement of the workshop would be made on the FEANI website with invitations being sent to NMCs, the EMC and those who had attended the General Assembly in Darmstadt in January 2001. The language of the workshop will be English. A fee of 100 euros per delegate may possibly be charged, to include lunch and registration.
3.4 It was agreed that the next General Assembly would be combined with the workshop on 12 March 2001. It was proposed that the workshop would run from 9.00 to 15.30 with the General Assembly following on until 16.30. Only ESOEPE members would be able to attend the General Assembly. Delegates attending the workshop would also be invited to attend a dinner on the evening of 11 March.
3.5 The workshop would also provide an opportunity for prospective members of the Observatory to learn more about ESOEPE and to submit an application for membership to the General Assembly.
Action:
Mr Wauters to compile list of invitees from FEANI NMCs and the EMC to pass to Mr Tailly.
Mr Ramsay to compile list of invitees from the Darmstadt General Assembly attendees and pass to Mr Tailly.
Mr Tailly to prepare paper and provide speaker on 'outcomes versus content'.
Dr Wasser to prepare paper on 'Bi-national accreditation'. Dr Wasser to liaise with Mr Ramsay regarding information on UK joint accreditation programmes.
Mr Wauters to contact the European Commission with regard to preparing a paper on 'life-long learning'.
Mr Ramsay to send workshop agenda, discussion topics and details to Mr Wauters for the pre-announcement on the FEANI website.
Mr Tailly to arrange conference facilities and hotel by beginning of January.
4.1 The paper on 'Foreign Adaptation of US Engineering Education Models' was noted by the PSC.
4.2 The WFEO paper on 'International Engineering Education and Quality Assurance' was noted by the PSC. It was agreed that the country-specific questionnaires, after amendment and redesign and the addition of an explanation, would provide a valuable source of information on the ESOEPE website. Professor Shannon agreed to redesign the questionnaire for Europe and ESOEPE members. A reference to VDI would also be necessary and Dr Wasser agreed to contact Mr Simsheuser with regard to his agreement for the material to be adapted and published on the website.
Action:
Prof Shannon to redesign questionnaires for Europe and ESOEPE members.
Dr Wasser to contact Mr Simsheuser for authorization to use the survey material.
5.1 Mr Ramsay tabled the website templates prepared by the UK. The PSC agreed that the format and layout was acceptable bar several minor alterations.
5.2 It was agreed that the headed sections could be expanded on for each of the member countries. The PSC also agreed the need for a link on the website to each member country's list of accredited courses. The list would follow a similar split to that used by ABET: engineering/computer science/related subjects. It was suggested that each country would display overarching standards of accreditation and then, as in the case of Germany, provide links to specific sectors ie mechanical.
Action:
Right hand column to be removed from the first 2 slides of the website.
An 'activities' heading to be added to the left hand column on the website.
Prof Lemos to provide Miss Vallier with information on the Portuguese Accreditation Board to be used on the website.
Dr Wasser to email Miss Vallier names and addresses of contacts in Switzerland and Portugal (Prof Heuser, Mr De Souza and Mr de Barros).
Professor Squarzoni to provide Miss Vallier with member information for the website as per the relevant headings.
Each member to prepare a list of accredited courses for link to the website.
6. Any other business
6.1 Mr Ramsay tabled a copy of Commissioner Reding's statement on the engineering profession which made reference to ESOEPE and possible opportunities for financial support. Although it was not within the Commission's scope to impose legislation, they were in a position to provide financial support. The statement made reference to supporting 'any initiative aiming at setting up a European accreditation based on a common methodology…'. While the objective of ESOEPE was not to introduce a pan-european method of accreditation, it was likely that it would still qualify for funding on the basis of its intention to provide a platform for discussion on accreditation within Europe.
6.2 PSC agreed FEANI, as a legal association (unlike ESOEPE) should submit a proposal to the Commission on behalf of ESOEPE to request funding to set up a website in order to disseminate information and create mutual understanding and confidence between members. In this way, FEANI would act as the project management body with each country organisation a supporter, thereby reinforcing the issue of subsidiarity.
6.3 Mr Wauters advised of the personnel situation at the FEANI offices in Brussels in relation with the departure in retirement of Mrs Hakimi in 2002. Francoise was due to move from present part-time interim to part-time employee in 2002, in charge of maintaining the website including all ESOEPE activities.
Action:
FEANI to submit a proposal to the Commission on behalf of ESOEPE.
7. Date of Next Meeting
7.1 The General Assembly will take place on 12 March 2002 in Paris at 15.30 (venue to be confirmed).