ABET as a trigger for private higher education development in Gulf Cooperation Council: ALHOSN Civil Engineering Program, UAE as a case study

Abstract

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program offered at ALHOSN University was finally accredited by ABET. This paper, firstly and empirically, demonstrates the process of accreditation which includes self-study prior to application of accreditation, major changes required by EAC and further follow-up modifications. This is aiming to share experience, especially, with other private institutions in the country or the gulf region which are also pursuing or preparing to pursue the same for quality assurance and enhancement about the name and reputations. Meanwhile, by further changes to the curriculum, the expected outcomes of the program will be evaluated by Bloom's taxonomy in a classification contains 15 outcomes of civil engineering program. Such classification is defined by Body of Knowledge (BOK) committee in its report The Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge (BOK) for the 21st Century. The reason to cite this classification of outcomes is because it was designed to evaluate the outcomes of ABET accredited institutions.