What is EUR-ACE®
EUR-ACE® is a framework and accreditation system that provides a set of standards that identifies high-quality engineering degree programmes in Europe and abroad.
The EUR-ACE® label is a certificate awarded by an authorised agency to a HEI (Higher Education Institution) in respect of each engineering degree programme which it has accredited.
Professions such as engineering, medicine, architecture and others carry out work which directly affects the lives of the public.
In order to assure the public that these actions and decisions are carried out safely and ethically, graduates must possess specific competencies.
To ensure that engineering education programmes produce graduates who can demonstrate satisfactory achievement of these competencies, they are subject to accreditation by their professional body or another accreditation agency which carries out programme-based accreditation.
The EUR-ACE® label benefits
The EUR-ACE® system is internationally recognised and facilitates both academic and professional mobility.
The EUR-ACE® system incorporates the views and perspectives of the main stakeholders: students, higher education institutions, employers, professional organisations and accreditation agencies.
…for higher education institutions
- Is an additional verification of high-quality engineering education– it meets the quality standards set by the engineering profession
- Provides an incentive for prospective students to choose a EUR-ACE® labelled programme
- Provides reliable information on the quality of First Cycle programmes for admission to Second Cycle programmes
- Provides reliable information on the quality of Second Cycle programmes for admission to doctoral programmes
…for students & engineering graduates
- Assurance that the EUR-ACE® labelled programme meets high European and international standards and is recognised by employers in Europe
- Facilitates application to EUR-ACE® Master and doctoral programmes in other Higher Education Institutions
- In countries where the engineering profession is regulated, EUR-ACE® labelled programmes meet the educational requirements for becoming a Registered or chartered engineer.
- The EUR-ACE® label facilitates graduate mobility as promoted by the EU Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualification.
- The EUR-ACE® label is the educational standard for the professional card as promoted by FEANI.
- FEANI automatically includes EUR-ACE® labelled programmes in its Index which lists educational requirements for the Eur Ing title.
…for employers
Successful completion of a EUR-ACE® labelled engineering programme assures the employer of:
- Candidates’ knowledge, understanding and practical capabilities meet international standards in engineering education
- Consistency with recognised international educational standard descriptors such as the ECTS Diploma Supplement
- Reliable verification of the high quality of the engineering degree programme of candidates, (above the generic minimum standards set by law), as well as relevance to the engineering profession.
…for professional engineering organisations
- Reassurance that graduates meet educational requirements for admission to their registers (if the organisation has set its educational standard at EUR-ACE® level)
- The EUR-ACE® label is the educational standard for the professional card.
- FEANI automatically includes EUR-ACE® labelled programmes in its Index which lists educational requirements for the Eur Ing title.
…for accreditation agencies
- Offers an additional quality label to stakeholders (Higher Education Institutions)
- Is a certification of quality of accreditation agency according to European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) and employers’ requirements
- Facilitates integration into the European network of engineering professionals
- Opens up the possibility of accrediting in other European countries and worldwide
- Emphasises outcome-based accreditation of engineering programmes
- Creates a dialogue between ENAEE and other similar organisations such as the International Engineering Alliance with the objective of facilitating worldwide mobility of engineers
EUR-ACE® Framework Standards and Guidelines
The EUR-ACE® Framework Standards and Guidelines (EAFSG) constitute the basis upon which authorisation to award the EUR-ACE® label is granted to quality assurance and accreditation agencies.