New Delhi: India's pursuit for full-fledged
membership in Washington Accord, an international agreement
for standardising engineering education, may be prolonged
further after the grouping has suggested changes to the
accreditation system to bring it in conformity with the global
standards.
The 13-member grouping has extended India's provisional
membership for another two years. The All India Council of
Technical Education (AICTE), which coordinates with the
Washington Accord on this issue, will apply for full-fledged
membership next year.
India became a provisional member of Washington Accord in
2007. As per the provisions of the Washington Accord, a
country becomes eligible for full-fledged membership after two
years of provisional membership.
India in 2008 approached the Washington Accord for sending
mentors for review of the accreditation system before being
considered for full-fledged membership.
"We wrote to Washington Accord in 2008 to send the mentors
to review the accreditation system as a prelude to permanent
membership. Two mentors came here and reviewed the
accreditation system and suggested changes. After that we have
put in place the revised accreditation system since June this
year," AICTE Vice Chairman Prof S S Mantha said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 00:12