Quality assessment of engineering education: a portuguese perspective

Abstract

The current interest on the subject of quality assessment in European higher education is also felt in Portugal. Three systems have been identified here as important examples to be studied in detail: those that are already put in operation in the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. After due consideration, including an international seminar on quality assessment of higher education organized by the Universidade do Porto, the dutch system was selected as the basis for the procedure to be adopted by the portuguese universities. This paper starts by presenting a brief description of the organization of engineering studies in Portugal, with a reference to the role of the portuguese association of engineers - the Ordem dos Engenheiros - in awarding the professional title of Engenheiro (Engineer). The question of international comparisons of engineering education systems is addressed, and a suggestion is given concerning the need for more european-wide review exercises of engineering curricula, such as the review of electrical engineering initiated by the dutch association of universities (VSNU). Whenever such a review will be carried out for other areas of engineering, the present authors' faculty is a candidate to take part in the exercise.