Developing benchmarks for computer engineering to fit Palestinian environment

Joint Authors

Abd al-Nur, Hanna
Elaydi, Hatim
Arafah, Labib
al-Sahib, Mahmud

Source

آليات التوافق و المعايير لضمان الجودة و الاعتماد الأكاديمي في التعليم : المؤتمر السنوي الرابع للمنظمة العربية لضمان الجودة في التعليم المنعقد في القاهرة خلال الفترة 2-3 أيلول 2012.

Publication Date

2012-09-30

Country of Publication

Jordan

No. of Pages

10

Main Subjects

Educational Sciences
Information Technology and Computer Science

Topics

• Education
• Higher education
• Learning
• Conferences
• Palestine
• Computer Engineering

English Abstract

Benchmarks are considered as self-improvement and quality management/quality assurance tools, allowing higher education institutions (HEI)/programs to compare themselves with others regarding some aspects of implementation, with a view of finding ways to improve current performance.

Computer engineering (CE) programs attract quality students and aim to prepare them to become capable and responsible professionals, scientists, and engineers.

Several reports that define and update guidelines for computer engineering curricula have appeared over the past four decades.

Recent efforts have targeted international participation, reflecting the need for the leading professional organizations to become truly global in scope and responsibility.

Aware of these efforts and global changes, we had to launch a similar process in Palestine.

This process is intended to fill a gap and raise awareness among Palestinian HEIs to the issues related to curriculum and graduates' specifications; two major pillars of high quality higher education.

This is why this document focuses solely on curriculum and graduates’ specifications, that is, the volume of studies, knowledge areas, and professional practical and transferable skills.

However, as program specifications are also of importance, a template has also been developed and included in this document.

This template is proposed to help Palestinian higher education institutions judge their current curricula based on their goals and indented learning outcomes.

All this draws upon recent efforts and published reports in computer engineering curricula developed by several international bodies.

This paper presents benchmarks and guidelines for undergraduate first-degree (bachelor, B.Sc.) computer engineering program that is currently offered by most of Palestinian HEIs.

This paper describes the expectations of graduates of computer engineering.

It illustrates the expected background, knowledge areas, and professional practical and transferable skills employers expect to find in graduates of CE program.

The volume of study (credits) for the field of study is also presented.

Furthermore, various groups of topics are presented along with their respective weights for both minimum (Threshold) and superior (Excellent) level program.

These weights as published by ACM were reviewed by an expert group from our national faculty members who work at all national HEIs that provide the first university degree of computer engineering programs.

This benchmarking document is proposed as a useful tool for all those who are responsible for designing programs in the computer engineering field.

The wide range of information is not intended to be exclusive but rather representative of the diversity of knowledge and skills that have to be considered when improving a program of study or designing a new one.

In fact the user will see himself/herself forced to take difficult decisions when it comes to replying to all the requirements as specified by the benchmark and abiding by the constraints and regulations of the Higher Education Institution.

But also, while the benchmark is one per specialty, each institution can be creative enough to come up with a distinctive program.

Data Type

Conference Papers

Record ID

BIM-601575

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• MLA
• AMA