Accreditation criteria, procedure and training

Engineers Ireland undertakes accreditation visits to universities and institutes of technology to ensure engineering and engineering technology programmes meet international standards.

Accreditation Criteria

Engineers Ireland’s Accreditation Criteria apply to engineering education programmes designed to meet the education standard required to achieve the professional titles of Chartered Engineer, Associate Engineer and Engineering Technician. The criteria are based on programme outcomes, programme areas and programme management criteria.

Engineers Ireland introduced new Accreditation Criteria in January 2021. The main changes made to the previous edition (2014) are: a new programme outcome on ‘Engineering Management’; a new programme area on ‘Sustainability’; coverage of data science, analytics and the ethical usage of technology and data; coverage of equality, diversity and inclusion in professional practice, teamwork and communication; and reorganisation and relabelling of the criteria.

Accreditation Procedure

Engineers Ireland undertakes accreditation visits to higher education institutions (HEIs) to ensure engineering and engineering technology programmes meet international standards. Before the accreditation visit, the HEI must submit detailed documents covering all aspects of the programmes for accreditation, focusing largely on compliance with programme outcomes. Every accredited programme is assigned a panel, made up of a chair and two assessors. Read more about our accreditation procedure in the document below.

HEIs can apply for accreditation of their programmes by completing the accreditation application form and sending, along with the associated fee, to: accreditation@engineersireland.ie. You will find a list of accreditation fees on the application form.

Training for Accreditation Assessors

Accreditation assessors from industry and academia evaluate third-level engineering programmes by reviewing evidence, touring facilities and interviewing students, graduates, employers and staff. If you would like to volunteer as an Engineers Ireland accreditation assessor, please email accreditation@engineersireland.ie.

Training is available for accreditation assessors.