FEA Project history

Realizing Futures of Engineering Accreditation is a national effort to ensure Canada’s engineering accreditation and academic assessment systems remain responsive, inclusive, and aligned with the evolving needs of the engineering profession.

This work builds on the Futures of Engineering Accreditation (FEA) Project which sought to leverage the insights, perspectives, and expertise of members of the Canadian engineering ecosystem to examine the current accreditation system, understand how it’s serving contemporary needs, and consider how it can chart a new path for the future of our profession.

Since its creation in 1965, the Canadian engineering education accreditation system has supported Canadian engineering regulators and inspired and mentored accreditation bodies internationally. Significant changes in engineering practice and education have occurred over this same period. From technological advancements to the emergence of new and alternative educational methods, the context for today’s engineers is far different from that of the past.

The co-design process

To best gather insights and perspectives from the Canadian engineering ecosystem, FEA used a collaborative design (co-design) approach to engage participants throughout the project.

A co-design process harnesses the collective intelligence and participation from various groups to achieve an overall outcome. FEA engagement sessions were led by a team of facilitators who ensured all participants had an opportunity to contribute to the design process.

The journey

From 2021-2024, the FEA project took a phased approach to understand the current state and trends in the Canadian engineering ecosystem, and how best to address gaps and requirements to meet the needs of the engineer of the future.

Revisit key milestones along this journey below. For more details, read the Journey to Here report.