Four bachelor degree programmes offered by the University of Macau’s (UM) Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), namely Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Electromechanical Engineering, received accreditation from the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). Students starting these four programmes in the 2011/2012 academic year are recognised under this accreditation, and upon graduation they will be qualified to become members of HKIE in order to receive professional qualifications recognised worldwide. This is the first time that Macao’s degree programmes have received accreditation from HKIE.
Today, UM held a HKIE accreditation ceremony for the four programmes. UM Rector Wei Zhao; Prof Philip Chen, dean of UM’s FST; Ir Prof K K Choy, president of HKIE; Ir Jolly Wong, head of the Communications Branch and chief police telecommunications engineer of the Hong Kong Police Force (chairman of the visiting team); Ir Dr Alex Chan, managing director of the Applied Technology Integration Ltd. (co-chairman of the visiting team) and other guests attended the ceremony.
Rector Wei Zhao noted in his speech that this is the first time that HKIE has conducted the accreditation exercise outside of Hong Kong, and receiving the accreditation from HKIE represents recognition of the academic programmes of FST. Rector Wei Zhao added that it also represents a big step forward for the university towards the goal of becoming a world-class university. Rector Wei Zhao mentioned that UM will continue to enhance collaboration with international organisations, so as to nurture more outstanding graduates for Macao, China, and the world.
HKIE President Ir Prof K K Choy said UM is a high-quality institution in the region with a solid academic foundation. Its graduates will be qualified to become members of HKIE in order to receive professional qualifications recognised worldwide. Ir Jolly Wong and Ir Dr Alex Chan indicated that it is a breakthrough in the international agreement for HKIE to conduct the accreditation exercise for UM. In accordance with the provisions of the Washington Accord, the mutually recognised policy applies to accreditation exercise conducted within the jurisdictions of the members, but normally does not apply to accreditation exercise conducted overseas. However, this accreditation exercise for UM is different. Aiming at obtaining the recognition from all members in the Washington Accord, HKIE obtained the authorisation from the Council, and applied the special codes of the Washington Accord in this special accreditation exercise. With the same goal to gain acceptance from all Accord members, HKIE followed the accreditation standards and procedures throughout the process, so as to meet the requirements of all signatories of the Washington Accord. If it succeeds, these four programmes will be the first batch of programmes to be accredited by the international signatories under the special codes.
FST Dean Prof Philip Chen said HKIE considers the development of programmes as a vital element, and pays particular attention to whether the programmes evolve with technology and the changing needs of the profession and society. As such, HKIE not only reviewed the mathematics and basic science courses, but also reviewed the engineering topics that included engineering sciences, engineering design and synthesis, health, safety and the environment, laboratory and field work, and projects. Meanwhile, they looked over some complementary studies, such as practical training, communications, and professional engineering.
The HKIE accreditation exercise was conducted on several levels—the university level (support for the accreditation exercise and further development), the faculty level (overall operation), the department level (management in development for faculty members, education for students and programmes) and the programme level (programme contents, preparation for career development and further studies for students). In order to better understand these four perspectives, the HKIE accreditation visiting team met with UM rector, vice rectors, all faculty members of FST, FST advisory board members, departmental advisors, and representatives of alumni and students. HKIE is one of the signatories of the Washington Accord. The engineering degree programmes accredited by HKIE are recognised by the other Washington Accord signatories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, etc. Moreover, HKIE is one of the signatories of the Seoul Accord. For the computer science programmes accredited by HKIE, they are recognised by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.
澳門大學科技學院的土木工程理學士學位、電機及電腦工程理學士學位、機電工程理學士學位及計算機科學理學士學位正式通過香港工程師學會學術評審，自二○一一／二○一二學年起入讀上述課程的學生，畢業時將可成為香港工程師學會會員，從而取得世界認可的專業資格。此為本澳首次有學位獲得香港工程師學會的學術認可。
澳大今（29）日舉行“澳門大學科技學院工程及計算機科學理學士學位獲香港工程師學會學術認可儀式”。澳大校長趙偉教授、科技學院院長陳俊龍教授、香港工程師學會會長蔡健權教授工程師、學術評審圑隊主席及香港警務處警隊總電信工程師黃振球、學術評審圑隊聯席主席及應科有限公司董事總經理陳兆根博士工程師等出席。
趙偉校長致辭時表示，是次為香港工程師學會首次對香港以外地區的課程進行學術評審，意義深遠，成功通過學術評審對澳大科技學院來說是一個重要的肯定，更讓該校向一流大學的目標邁進了一大步。澳大將不斷強化與國際機構之間的合作，為本澳、中國以至全球培育更多國際優秀人才。
蔡健權會長指出，澳大學術基礎穏固，實力雄厚，是區內具質素的高等學府，其畢業生將來更可成為香港工程師學會會員，從而取得世界認可的專業資格。黃振球及陳兆根工程師均表示，香港工程師學會此次為澳大的課程作評審，是國際協議層面的一次新突破：根據《華盛頓協議》，成員地區互相承認對方在己方區內所評審的學位，一般不適用於境外評審，而該會是次評審則引用《華盛頓協議》內相關的特別守則，爭取此次境外評審得到所有成員地區承認。基於此學會以一貫的嚴謹標準和程序進行整個評審，務求達到所有《華盛頓協議》成員的要求。學會不僅評審了四個課程，並且對大學、學院、師資、教學資源及設施作詳細考量。今年六月，《華盛頓協議》會議將在韓國首爾舉行，屆時香港工程師學會將提交經評審並通過的澳大課程，爭取獲所有成員地區承認。若能成功，則該批澳大課程將為國際上第一批以此方法認可的課程。
陳俊龍院長表示，香港工程師學會相當注重課程發展，特別是課程內容與科技、社會需求的銜接。因此，評審團不僅針對數學和基礎科學，而且還會審視工程科目，當中包括工程科學、工程設計和合成、職業健康安全和環境、實驗室和實地工作、工程專項等範疇；同時也會評審實用培訓、溝通及工程師專業等補充課題。
總括來說，是次學術評審的四大範疇包括：一、校方對學術評審的支持及未來發展；二、科技學院的整體運作；三、各學系對教師發展、學生培訓及課程的管理；四、課程的教學內容及對學生就業與升學的準備。為深入了解上述各項，評審團隊還分別會見了澳大校長、副校長、科技學院全體教學人員、學院及學系顧問、校友及各級學生代表等。是次評審機構香港工程師學會是《華盛頓協議》成員，學會評審的工程學位均獲其他成員認可，包括美國、英國、澳洲、加拿大、中華台北、愛爾蘭、日本、韓國、馬來西亞、新西蘭、俄羅斯、新加坡、南非及土耳其。此外，該學會亦是《首爾協議》成員，經其評審的電腦科學學位均獲美國、英國、澳洲、加拿大、中華台北、日本及韓國其他成員認可。
