Seoul Accord Adds Full Signatory Members

The Seoul Accord was launched in 2008 with the aim of establishing mutual recognition of equivalent professional preparation for graduates of educational programs in the Computing and IT-related disciplines accredited by the member agencies that will lead to enhanced mobility of professionals. Six founding signatories included ABEEK (Republic of Korea), ABET Inc. (USA), ACS (Australia), BCS (United Kingdom), CIPS (Canada) and JABEE (Japan).

Over the years, others have joined at both a full and provisional basis, but in 2024 a record four new full signatories were added: Saudi Arabia Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC Saudi Arabia), Engineers Ireland (EI), Indonesian Accreditation Board for Education (IABEE), and Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT).

The path to full signatory status includes various evaluation sessions, including audit visits, and can be a multi year process. Saudi Arabia is the first Middle Eastern country to acquire membership. Adding signatories strenthens the value of the accord as accreditations issued by signatories will also be officially recognized by other signatory accrediting bodies.