A Comprehensive Approach to Establishing Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs) for Engineering Technician Programme Accreditation

Within the field of engineering education, the identification and evaluation of Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs) are crucial components of the accreditation procedure. This procedure is required by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) to ensure compliance with international standards. The present work presents a detailed methodology for developing and assessing PEOs in the Diploma in Civil Engineering (EC110) programme at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Pulau Pinang Branch, Permatang Pauh Campus, Pulau Pinang. The goal was to develop a comprehensive and inclusive approach that encompasses the stages of planning, implementation, evaluation, and improvement of PEOs, with a strong emphasis on including stakeholders extensively. The research examines the alignment of PEOs with industry demands and accreditation requirements using various methodological techniques such as stakeholder workshops, analytical surveys, and performance metrics analysis. The key findings reveal that the cleverly developed PEOs not only align with the accrediting standards but also reflect the institution's strategic goals, supported by positive input from many stakeholders. This data demonstrates the effectiveness of a comprehensive approach to PEO development, highlighting the importance of stakeholder involvement and continual quality improvement (CQI) processes in strengthening the quality of engineering technician education. The paper presents a replicable model for establishing PEOs that emphasises stakeholder involvement and continuous programme improvement. This model significantly contributes to the discussion on accrediting engineering education.