Globalising : UET VC recommends OBE models

Lauds Pakistan Engineering Council’s efforts to make engineering degrees internationally recognised.

PESHAWAR:

The need to implement an outcome based education (OBE) system in higher education institutes was stressed at a two-day workshop held at University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar. The workshop concluded on Monday.

“OBE is an advanced model of education focused on achieving goals,” said UET Vice Chancellor Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani while addressing speakers at the closing ceremony. In his address Hussain said OBE should be implemented as “it is time we move forward from the old methods of education”. He advised the faculty of UET Peshawar to start changing the system.



He also spoke of efforts made to bring engineering degrees recognisable abroad and of Pakistan Engineering Council’s (PEC) membership of the Washington Accord. The accord was signed in 1989. According to the International Engineering Alliance website, the accord “recognises substantial equivalence in the accreditation of qualifications in professional engineering, normally of four years duration.” PEC is a provisional member of the accord and, as a member, graduates from PEC-accredited institutes will be facilitated in other member countries for work opportunities.

“PEC is trying its best to regulate the profession of engineering along international standards – this was focused on in the last five to six years,” said PEC K-P VC Zahid Arif. “The Washington Accord was a milestone for the engineering sector in Pakistan when in 2010 the country became a provisional member of the accord,” Arif said. He added the PEC is trying its best to become a full member.

Earlier in his address, the dean of UET Peshawar said they were taking all possible initiatives to create a link between the government, academia and the industry through a well-
sustained plan.

Two speakers from Malaysia, Professor Megat Johari Megat and Azalan Abdul Aziz, were also present on the occasion. They said Pakistan and Bangladesh are the only two countries in the subcontinent that have yet to gain full membership of the accord. However, they hoped Pakistan would get it soon.

Johari said it was his first visit to Peshawar and he was very pleased with the hospitality shown by the people of the city and the UET administration in particular. The two speakers also held a number of activities during the training sessions.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2015.