Engineers Canada
Engineers Canada

The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) is soliciting feedback on significant changes to the Interpretive Statement on Curriculum Content for Options and Dual-Discipline Programs (Interpretive Statement).

Background

Dual-discipline programs are generally presented in one of three ways:

  • X Engineering and Y Engineering (e.g. Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering).
  • X and Y Engineering (e.g. Electrical and Biomedical Engineering).
  • X Y Engineering (e.g. Electrical Biomedical Engineering).

In its review of the current Interpretive Statement, the P&P Working Group (Working Group) came to the conclusion that the requirement that programs that include multiple disciplines in the name “must meet the Accreditation Board accreditation requirements for each discipline named” was prescribing a level of review that would not be appropriate for some programs that include significant material from multiple disciplines but are not designed to meet the accreditation requirements of each discipline independently. In many cases, programs that include multiple disciplines in the name are designed as an integration of the material from multiple disciplines. Such programs should be reviewed as a single integrated discipline rather than through the lens of separate disciplines. The work of the Working Group also clarified the section of the Interpretive Statement regarding program options.

The CEAB directed the Working Group to conduct a national consultation with the various interest holders that will be affected by the revisions to the Interpretive Statement. The goal is to clarify the CEAB criteria for both HEIs and visiting teams and, therefore, facilitate the process of demonstrating compliance and conducting compliance reviews. This will enable engineering programs to better prepare for CEAB visits and guide CEAB visiting teams in assessing such programs.

Consultation period

The consultation period will take place from January 9, 2025, to February 14, 2025.

Documents for consultation

The revised Interpretive Statement is available here. To review the current Interpretive Statement, please click here.

Consultation questions

1. Does the revised Interpretive Statement on Curriculum Content for Options and Dual-Discipline Programs provide appropriate guidance to HEIs with respect to compliance with the CEAB criteria and to facilitating visiting team assessment of the programs?

2. What are the ramifications, both positive and negative, of implementing the revised Interpretive Statement?

3. Do you foresee there being any risks associated with the implementation of the revised Interpretive Statement? If yes, what are these risks and how can they be mitigated?

Interest holders being consulted

  • CEAB members
  • Canadian Federation of Engineering Students (CFES)
  • Engineering Deans Canada (EDC)
  • Engineering regulators
  • Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including  Program Industry Advisory Committee Members
  • National Admissions Officials Group (NAOG)

How to participate

1. Introduction to the consultation process – webinar

Any individual within your organization who may be interested is invited to attend one of our scheduled introduction webinars. By clicking their preferred option below, participants will be provided with instructions on how to register:

The introduction webinar will provide an overview of the revisions and define the ways by which we will consult each interest holder group. Any individual who is not able to participate in the live webinar will be able to access the webinar recording here, when available.

2. Webinar meeting with organization officials

Should you or your colleagues wish to organize a web meeting to discuss the revisions to the Interpretive Statement, please email accreditation@engineerscanada.ca to schedule the meeting.

3. Submit written feedback

You are invited to participate in the consultation through any of the means listed above. Additionally, you are invited to submit a formal written response. Written responses should be directed to accreditation@engineerscanada.ca or by mail to:

P&P Working Group to review the Interpretive Statement on Curriculum Content 
for Options and Dual-Discipline Programs
c/o Roselyne Lampron 
Engineers Canada
300-55 Metcalfe St.
Ottawa, ON K1P 6L5

Written responses must be received by February 14, 2025

How your feedback will be used

All feedback from all interest holders will be collected and presented to the Working Group, CEAB, and Engineers Canada Board. A summary of all feedback received will be circulated to interest holders and posted on the Engineers Canada website.
On behalf of the Working Group, the Accreditation Board, and Engineers Canada, thank you for considering this invitation. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mya Warken (mya.warken@engineerscanada.ca or at 1-877-408-9273 extension 206) or Roselyne Lampron (roselyne.lampron@engineerscanada.ca  or at 1-877-408-9273 extension 222).