PREPARING THE APPLICATION

Engineering graduates holding a degree from courses accredited by OE are exempt from OE’s admission exams (Membership and Qualification Regulations – heading 5.1). Accreditation is based on the objective analysis of the teaching methods, course curriculum, teaching staff and student performance (see OE’s Statute).

Accreditation begins when the institution prepares the dossiers. One dossier is for general information about the institution and its common subjects and another dossier for each course to be assessed. The Accreditation Committee is appointed by the Admission and Qualification Council (CAQ) consisting of 3 to 5 members of which two are appointed by the specialisation College.

The Accreditation Committee studies the elements submitted by the school and, assisted by OE’s Qualification Office (the former GabFor – Gabinete para Formação), arranges and prepares the visits to the various institutions.

The Course Accreditation Process was designed based on the following assumptions:

1. Course Accreditation exempts the respective engineering graduates from taking exams of admission to OE.

2. Anyone with an engineering degree, or its legal equivalence, that hasn’t been accredited yet may apply individually to the exams for admission to OE.

3. The School that submits an application to have a course accredited will do it with the conviction that the course complies with the general conditions of an Engineering course, has a curricular program, teaching staff and an academic activity suitable to the training of engineers recognised as such by OE, that is, someone who:

"...applies the sciences and techniques of the various engineering fields for research, design, study, planning, manufacturing, construction, production, inspection and quality control, including coordination and management of these and related activities” (OE Statute, article 4), at a technical and scientific level compatible with membership in OE;

4. OE accredits a course when it meets the technical and scientific conditions suitable to the training of engineers with a minimum level of Trainee Member, as laid out in advance by OE.

Therefore, schools may by their initiative submit the course accreditation application when they believe to have met the necessary conditions.

The following recommendations may be made to the school so that its application process meets its expectations:

Prior knowledge on the whole process, documents and requirements;

Use the “application guide” to learn the most critical aspects required for a favourable opinion;

Remain determined to achieve the objectives by mobilising all the academic structures for this purpose;

Be convinced that the process contributes towards enhancing the teaching system;

Deliver all information requested by OE;

Accept a visit by the Accreditation Committee;

Interpret the committee’s decision constructively, and be willing to make the recommended changes when necessary;

Do not let the system “fall,” that is, don’t waste the gains after having implemented improvements;