| The engineering development cannot get away from the theoretical guidance of science and technology,and more cannot be independent from the cultivation of engineering professionals,while the engineering education shoulders the important task of cultivating engineers,and furthermore,international mutual recognition for engineering education quality provides important basis for worldwide engineering development.Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology(ABET)plays the key role in American technological development and worldwide international mutual recognition of engineering education.Currently,the Washington Accord initiated by ABET is the most authoritative international mutual recognition agreement for engineering education quality in the world.That Chinese Science Association joined the Washington Accord is of strategic significance for Chinese engineering technologies to adapt to international competition and realize globalized flowing of engineering professionals.To systematically research the generating mechanism and operation mode of American ABET can promote development of Chinese accreditation organizations of engineering education,which will lie the foundation for further enhancing reform of Chinese engineering education and quality improvement,and more importantly,this is of far reaching importance for Chinese technology organizations to obtain the discourse power in the world.The thesis is totally in four parts: The part 1 is an introduction which emphatically expounds the importance of research on generating mechanism and operation mode of ABET for Chinese cultivation of engineers and professional accreditation of engineering in early period after China joined the Washington Accord,and takes the modern "governance" theory and engineering professionalization as the theoretical basis and research perspective of the thesis.The modern "governance" theory breaks the two-dimensional structure composed of the government and market,stresses the three dimensional structure composed by social organizations,government and market and values the participation of multiple players in public affairs management.While the professionalized development of engineering also takes autonomous professional associations as one of its core elements.The part 2 analyzes the generating mechanism of ABET and points out that the quality crisis of engineering education triggered by expanding of American higher education served as the exogenous factor for formation of engineering social organizations,while the American tradition of professionalism and professionalized development requirements boosted the formation of social organizations from the interior.The generation and development of ABET are just important manifestations of participation of multiple players in public service in modern "governance" theory,also the internal requirements on professional development of engineering.The part 3 studies the operation mode of ABET.The organization architecture of ABET is jointly responsible by the full member units and directorate,thereby forming the governance architecture in which multiple players participate in decision-making.The mission and function of ABET are to guarantee incessant elevation of engineering education quality,which manifests America’s strong "autonomy" spirit.Numerous colleges urged ABET to reform the accreditation standard by criticizing and opposing,which also reflects the necessity and importance for multiple players to participate in public service in modern "governance" theory.The part 4 makes a comparative study on the Chinese and American professional accreditation systems and organizations of engineering education,pointing out that China Engineering Education Accreditation Association(CEEAA)adopts the accreditation standard and procedures similar to those of ABET,and also places a premium on the school’s commitment of incessantly improving professional quality;Yet the ABET has more outstanding independence,professionalism and voluntariness,and more focuses on personality development of students.In contrast,the CEEAA started late and has a strong official background,and it restricts the lowest credit of course to conform to requirements of Chinese higher education system.For this,following suggestions are proposed for how to develop engineering education accreditation system and construct organizations with Chinese characteristics: highlighting the responsibilities of government sectors,building related systems,expanding the decision making power and enhancing authoritativeness of social organizations such as professional engineer association and CEEAA,supervising them effectively;enhancing own construction of social organizations,realizing modern governance structure,publicizing the standards and procedures for selecting and using talents,and shaping a good and ordered cooperation and competition environment. |
