Research On Specialized Accreditation Of Engineering In The United States In The View Of Professionalism

The specialized accreditation of engineering (SAE), which orients the development of engineering profession, is the fundamental issue of the engineering education research. The U.S. system of SAE has been the major reference of its Chinese counterpart. However, current research of American SAE overemphasizes the problem-solution approach and the introduction of the system, neglects the philosophy analysis of the SAE research and the logical origin of the system, which poses a vacuum in the research of American SAE. Thus, from a professionalism perspective, this dissertation starts with the inherent association from the SAE and engineering profession development in the United States, probing for the ideology and intrinsic logic of evolution of the American system in SAE, therefore, analyze the American SAE from perspectives of values and culture, has a great theoretical innovative and practical value.The dissertation introduces the theoretical perspective of professionalism, which is an ideology in the arena of knowledge and a realistic social system. It indicates the entire historical process of U.S. SAE from concept to system and actions. As a concept of the system growing in the western society in the development of professionalization and in the process of forming a profession system, the ideology of professionalism recognition of a highly specialized knowledge and the scientific basis of a profession, recognition of formal education and training mechanism, recognition of professional autonomy determine the goals, methods and content of their work,recognition of through the collective manner and organizational approches, the profession obtains the "privilege" protection from government. In short, because firmly believing that the professional system is benefit to the social civilization process and meet the public's best interests, professionalism ideology final recognition of professional system of legitimacy and whereby the lead to social division and inequality of the social structure. In support of the professionalism ideology, professionalization of a profession needs to follow the development of profession social project, through the projecct of continuous and progressive society, showing the growth of the six major dimensions. They are: the establishment of a professional organization(society, or association), to establish a scientific system of knowledge and education and training mechanisms, to development a code of ethics, to provided a social-orientation services, to obtain the market shelter from the government, and to form the system of collegiality. Through this process, the profession system end of two mutually independent system of mutual support and the process, that is , to obtain the the market control and have a high reputation,the ideology of professionalism and social system to build.U.S. SAE ideals and system building, is a specific kind of historical and cultural process. Engineer's Council for Development (ECPD) was born in the engineering profession flourish but a crisis of legitimacy of the era, it marks the emergence of professional development has entered a new stage of a turning point. To it as a carrier of education established a professional autonomy SAE organization, issued a professional accreditation standards, unity of the professional quality of education and ultimately promote the development of the engineering profession. Engineering accreditation standards, to establish the scientific basis of knowledge and responsibility, by establishing the authority of engineering knowledge and control of market direction and realize the project to expand the borders of knowledge, subdivide the discipline of knowledge and build the scientific model of engineering knowledge. Colleges and universities is to achieve SAE of the reality of places. Through professional system of systematic, structural, and the legalization of heritage education, college and university contribution to make a high preparation of engineering professionals. More importantly, colleges and universities is also a cultural venues of idea of middle class and professionalism. SAE is a major force promoting ethical development engineer. Construction engineers through the reunification of the code of ethics, the development of ethical standards accreditation, SAE for the establishment of a unified ethics and morality has made important contributions. The long road to professionalism, the U.S. SAE contact with the government. In the state level, to the Engineers Registration Act as the basis, SAE by the government's privilege, In the federal level, the U.S. SAE has received market shelter from the recognition system, to in the end to withdraw from the recognition of USDE. Show that with the cooperation of the government relations, ABET not only serve the paramount public interest and maintenance organization to improve the academic quality of the traditional objectives and autonomy. In the 21st century, the U.S. SAE in the event of crises and challenges, constantly breaking the occupation's consistent protection of style, with the stakeholders of the interaction, the efforts of the new system.The dissertation shows that the intrinsic logic of the U.S. system of SAE is professionalism. As an ideology, professionalism goes throughout the origin, the growth, and the reform of the system. As a social system, the professionalism has sufficiently elaborate the development process and system features. The SAE, engineering education and the engineering profession co-exist and co-develop. The U.S. SAE system construction is simultaneously implemented with professional education in universities and colleges and the establishment of engineering profession. With the interpretation of professionalism, the U.S. engineering profession has established the unification of quality of professional education, the unification of ethics, and organizational integration. At the same time, the dilemma of engineering as a legal profession changes. The social status and professional reputation of engineers is improved. Moreover, based on the professionalism ideal, linked with professional culture, SAE connects higher education and the profession, therefore, the SAE system comes into being.The U.S. SAE system offers a breakthrough for the development of the theories of classical professionalism. While stressing the scientific basis, the closure of field, and the market monopoly, the U.S. engineering professionalism and also displays some of the inherent requirements. Namely: through the collective actions conquest of statues and continuous quality improvement of education quality to meet objectives of the external environment, the U.S. SAE obtains the harmonious unity of professional and social control. At the same time, the infiltration of subjects with open borders creates a unique case, which enriches the classical model of sociology, "sub-homogeneous" discipline constructs the institution of the engineering profession.In summary, from 1932 to now, orientated and completed by professionalism, the SAE develops into full-blown with evolution of the profession and social changes. The model of U.S. may inspire the development of the Chinese engineering specialized accreditation system. Although as "the exogenous"-countries, China and the United States of different social and historical and cultural background, but in the reality of globalization and knowledge-based economy under the conditions, "profession" is now become the core and the "pushing hand" of engineering accreditation system. Construct the SAE system of China, which according to the intrinsic logic of profession and development by the movement of professionalization, will be our important tasks and inevitable choice in the futrure.