Spotlight: Nigeria Focuses on Outcome-based Accreditation

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has begun training for program evaluators of outcome-based education (OBE) for engineering accreditation in Nigeria’s higher institutions. The president of COREN, Mr Ali Rabiu, said the council was faced with realities that made it necessary to change the paradigm of the Nigerian engineering education system.

The first of these realities was the expansion of engineering programs in variety and number at various engineering faculties and second was globalization and emerging technologies. He said COREN recognized the need to mediate in regulating the processes that lead to local and international recognition of engineering qualification from higher institutions in Nigeria.

“Such mutual recognition is expected to improve the quality, proficiency and mobility of COREN registered engineers. In 2018, CORAN began the process of application for the Provisional Signatory Status of the Washington Accord. “Such membership required COREN to implement the OBE curriculum. The president explains that current evaluator training will help to ensure the implementation of the council’s resolution on Outbased-Based Education. He said it was to assemble critical mass of knowledge and experienced persons in OBE as well as mentees of OBE learning environment. Rabiu added that the training is also for programme evaluators of OBE who would form the COREN database for accreditation of engineering programmes.

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) regulates the practice of Nigerian engineering in all aspects and ramifications. The council carries out this mandate through the accreditation of engineering programs and other initiatives.