1 Rationale
This Temporary Exemption for Students Going on International Exchange is a situation-limited policy intended to remove accreditation barriers to students enrolled in undergraduate engineering programs at Canadian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) going on International Exchange as part of their degree program.
2 Definitions
For the sole purpose of this Temporary Exemption, the following terms are defined to provide clarity:
Engineers Canada’s 2022-2024 Strategic Priority 1.1 – Investigate and validate the purpose and scope of accreditation: A fundamental review of the accreditation process to understand if there is a desire to adopt a new, national academic requirement for licensure as well as an updated purpose of accreditation. This work is anticipated to address several fundamental questions around accreditation, including the role of licensed engineering professionals in the teaching of undergraduate engineering. The final deliverable of this work is a forward-looking document providing direction to Engineers Canada, including the CEAB and CEQB, to implement systems aligned with the purpose of accreditation and the academic requirement for licensure in the future.
Learning Activities: typically consist of courses, but may include non-coursework requirements such as seminars, training sessions, or work terms as defined by the Program.
Home Institution: The degree-granting Canadian higher education institution (HEI) that has requested Accreditation Board accreditation for an engineering degree program that satisfies the academic requirements for the practice of engineering at a professional level.
Host Institution: The institution outside of Canada where International Exchange Students complete part of their academic studies for their undergraduate engineering degree program. These Host Institutions are recognized by Home Institutions to deliver high quality engineering education.
International Exchange: Academic study pursued by a student at a Host Institution which includes one or more Learning Activities which are taken for academic credit as part of a student's undergraduate engineering degree program at the Home Institution.
International Exchange Student: An undergraduate student enrolled in a CEAB-accredited program or a program seeking CEAB accreditation who participates in an International Exchange at a Host Institution.
International Exchange Processes and Procedures: The Home Institution’s processes and procedures for students on International Exchange. During a CEAB accreditation evaluation, transfer credits that are granted from an International Exchange will only be accepted for meeting the academic program requirements for accreditation if the processes and procedures outlined in Section 7 of the Temporary Exemption are followed.
Accreditation Criteria cited in this document refer to the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board 2022 Accreditation Criteria and Procedures.
3 Time Frame
The Temporary Exemption will be re-evaluated by the CEAB by June 2027 with a view to making a recommendation on its future status to the Engineers Canada Board, unless otherwise instructed to do so at an earlier date. Any re-evaluation will take into consideration the outcomes of Engineers Canada’s 2022-2024 Strategic Priority 1.1.
4 Applicability
The Temporary Exemption only applies to International Exchange Students at a Host Institution and only if the Temporary Exemption processes and procedures outlined in Section 7 are documented and followed.
5 Scope of the Temporary Exemption
This Temporary Exemption addresses accreditation barriers to students going on International Exchange, including those criteria relating to the curriculum content that must be delivered by faculty members licensed to practice engineering in Canada, and the percentage of a program that must be completed at the Home Institution.
6 CEAB Accreditation Criteria and Procedures Considered Under this Temporary Exemption
Several CEAB Accreditation Criteria and Procedures have been identified which are affected by this Temporary Exemption:
Criterion 3.3.1 Admission: There must be documented processes and policies for admission of students. Admission involving advanced standing, prior studies, transfer credits and/or exchange studies must be in compliance with the associated Accreditation Board regulations…
The Temporary Exemption applies only to undergraduate engineering students going on International Exchange. Advanced standing, prior studies, and transfer credits for admission of students are outside the scope of this exception.
Criterion 3.3.2 Promotion and graduation: Processes and policies for promotion and graduation of students must be documented. The institution must verify that all students have met all its regulations for graduation in the program identified on the transcript and that the curriculum followed is consistent with that of the accredited program. The program name must be appropriate for all students graduating from the program.
Engineering programs with students on International Exchange are required to implement and adhere to the processes and procedures specified in Section 7. The Home Institution’s International Exchange Processes and Procedures must be submitted for review by the accreditation visiting team.
Criterion 3.4.4.1 A minimum of 600 Accreditation Units (AU) of a combination of engineering science and engineering design curriculum content in an engineering program shall be delivered by faculty members holding, or progressing toward, professional engineering licensure as specified in the Interpretive statement on licensure expectations and requirements.
International Exchange is exempt from this criterion if the verification process and procedures referenced in Section 7 are followed.
Criterion 3.4.4.4 A minimum of 225 AU of engineering design curriculum content in an engineering program shall be delivered by faculty members holding professional engineering licensure as specified in the Interpretive statement on licensure expectations and requirements.
International Exchange is exempt from this criterion if the verification process and procedures referenced in Section 7 are followed.
Criterion 3.4.8 The requirements for curriculum content must be satisfied by all students, including those claiming advanced standing, credit for prior post-secondary-level studies, transfer credits, and/or credit for exchange studies.
International Exchange is exempt from this criterion if the verification process and procedures referenced in Section 7 are followed.
Criterion 3.5.5 Professional status of faculty members: Faculty delivering curriculum content that is engineering science and/or engineering design are expected to be licensed to practise engineering in Canada…
International Exchange is exempt from this criterion if the verification process and procedures referenced in Section 7 are followed.
Appendix 1: Regulations for granting of transfer credits 1.4: There are no restrictions on transfers of credits among Accreditation Board-accredited programs; however, in all cases at least 50% of the program shall be completed at the home institution.
For International Exchange Students, this criterion is relaxed: at least 50% of the program must be completed at CEAB-accredited programs in Canada. Credits transferred based on domestic studies from programs abiding by the CEGEP credit transfer and feeder-institution credit transfer protocols described in Appendix 1 the CEAB Accreditation Criteria and Procedures will be considered part of a CEAB-accredited program.
Appendix 1: Regulations for granting of Transfer Credits clause 2.4.1: If transfer credit is granted for engineering science or engineering design, the home institution must verify, for example through a formal agreement, that the expertise, competence and professional status of the faculty are substantially equivalent to those of faculty delivering accredited programs in Canada;
International Exchange is exempt from this clause if the verification process and procedures referenced in Section 7 are followed.
Appendix 1: Regulations for granting of Transfer Credits clause 2.4.3: For transfer credits not covered under clause 2.4.1 [formal agreement between the home and exchange institution] or clause 2.4.2 [substantially equivalent programs, Washington Accord signatories, jurisdictions with which Engineers Canada has a mutual recognition agreement], at least 600 AU of engineering science and engineering design (combined) and at least 225 AU of engineering design must be completed at and credit granted by the home institution.
International Exchange is exempt from this clause, but International Exchange Students are still subject to criterion 3.4.4 (A minimum of 900 AU of a combination of engineering science and engineering design: Within this combination, each of Engineering Science and Engineering Design must not be less than 225 AU). However, an International Exchange Student is not required to acquire these AUs at their Home Institution if the verification process and procedures referenced in Section 7 are followed.
7 International Exchange Processes and Procedures
The Home Institution must document the International Exchange Processes and Procedures. To implement the Temporary Exemption, the Home Institution’s existing processes and procedures to evaluate transfer credits can be used.
7.1 Processes and Procedures to assess Learning Activities taken at a Host Institution
CEAB Accreditation Criteria and Procedures – Appendix 1, Regulation 1.2 requires the Home Institution to verify and provide evidence that the academic level of the Learning Activity for which credit is granted is equal to or above the academic level of the engineering program at the Home Institution. In addition, under this temporary exemption, the following processes and procedures apply:
- The Home Institution must assess a list of proposed Learning Activities to be taken for each International Exchange Student.
Learning Activity equivalencies must be assessed by relevant Home Institution program representative(s) (program director, equivalent, or designate) in collaboration with other faculty members with specialized disciplinary knowledge, as required. Proposed Learning Activities to be taken on International Exchange do not need to be mapped to Learning Activities at the Home Institution on a one-to-one basis. Rather, the suite of Learning Activities to be taken on International Exchange will be evaluated for substantial equivalency on how it meets the specific program requirements for accreditation.
- The Home Institution must have documented processes and procedures to verify that Host Institution Learning Activities for which transfer credits are granted carry at least the same number of AUs as the Home Institution leaning activities as per CEAB curriculum content categories Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Engineering Science, Engineering Design, and Complementary Studies.
In the case of Host Institution Learning Activities with Engineering Science and/or Engineering Design content, a Home Institution program representative who is licensed to practice engineering in Canada must attest that the Host Institution Learning Activities are substantially equivalent to the Home Institution’s Learning Activities.
7.2 Requirements for an Accreditation Visit
The Home Institution’s processes and procedures as required by section 7.1 must be made available to the accreditation visiting team.
A description of the review process, including an indication of the person(s) responsible for signing off on Learning Activities and/or program equivalencies for the granting of transfer credits obtained on an International Exchange must be available to the visiting team. The responsible individual(s) must be prepared to describe and discuss the review process during the accreditation visit. Up to three examples of relevant documentation to demonstrate this process must be made available to the visiting team.
Approved February 2023