Review Visit Report to COREN

by

Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM)

represented by

Ir. Professor Dr. Chuah Hean Teik and Ir. Dr. Tan Chee Fai

I. Preamble

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) was established by Decree No.

55 of 1970 as amended by Decree 27 of 1972 and now Engineers (Registration, etc) Act CAP E11 of

2004, with the mandate to regulate the practice of Engineering in all aspects and ramifications. Thus

COREN carries out the accreditation of engineering programmes in universities, polytechnics and

technical colleges, registration of engineering personnel and firms and issuance of engineering

regulations.

COREN applied to be a member economy of the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and

the Pacific (FEIAP) in November 2015, and has been accepted by FEAIP at its General Assembly

GA in Perth 2016. COREN also formally applied for recognition of FEIAP for their engineering

degree programme accreditation system, and was considered by the FEIAP Standing Committee on

Engineering Education and GM of FEIAP in 2016 in Perth. IEM was appointed by FEIAP to review

the accreditation system of COREN to ascertain the substantial equivalence of COREN recognized

degrees with those of other member economies of FEIAP. This is because engineering degrees

recognized by FEIAP will fulfill the basic academic education requirement for APEC engineers as

stated in APEC Engineer Manual.

IEM appointed Ir. Professor Dr. Chuah Hean Teik and Ir. Dr. Tan Chee Fai as their representatives in

this review process.

A FEIAP review visit was arranged by COREN on 17-22 April 2016 but trip materialise only from

17-22 July 2016. The schedule of the visit is attached in Appendix 1. However, all commitments,

finalising of arrangements and payment for the review visit was fully settled by 30 May 2016.

II. General Information

Early in the 20th

century the Public Works Department (PWD) Technical School was established in

Lagos to give three-year training to students after secondary school to produce technicians. The

Higher College Yaba was established in 1933 – 34 to train very good students from the best

secondary schools where science subjects were well taught, first for two years up to the London

Intermediate level, followed by another two-year course in engineering to produce “African” or

“Assistant” Engineers who were placed on salaries 31% lower than the salary of Nigerian graduate

engineers trained abroad1. A few of the products of the PWD Technical School and several students

of Yaba Higher College before or after completing the college diploma programme had scholarship to

go abroad to earn university degrees and industrial experience to become professional engineers.

The University College of Ibadan which was established in 1948 admitted students who had

completed secondary school into the first two years of engineering degree programme after which

students who performed satisfactorily were awarded intermediate B.Sc. and admitted to British

Universities to complete the remaining three years of the engineering degree programme.

The Nigerian College Zaria which ran engineering programmes, was established in 1955 and 5 sets of

students graduated from there with B.Sc. (London) External degree from 1960 – 1964.

A few years after Nigeria gained independence, in 1960, four universities were established which

started to run engineering programme. The first set of students to be awarded Nigerian university

degree in engineering graduated from ABU in 1965. Several more universities were established in the

1970’s and the decades that followed. There are currently over 130 universities in Nigeria with 46 of

them running engineering programmes. Refer Table 1 for the list of universities running engineering

programmes accredited by COREN.

Table 1: List of Nigerian Universities running Engineering Programmes

S/N UNIVERSITIES YEAR

ESTABLISHED

OWNERSHIP

1 Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi 1988 Federal

2 Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti 2009 Private

3 Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 1962 Federal

4 Akwa Ibom State University, Nkpot Enin 2004 State

5 Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma 1980 State

6 Anambra State University, Uli 2000 State

7 Bayero University, Kano 1975 Federal

8 Bells University of Technology, Ota 2005 Private

9 Caritas University, Amorji-Nike 2005 Private

10 Covenant University, Ota 2002 Private

11 Cross River State University of Technology, Calabar 2004 State

12 Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti 1988 State

13 Enugu State University of Science & Technology,

Enugu

1981 State

14 Imo State University, Owerri 1992 State

15 Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 1988 Federal

16 Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun 2007 Federal

17 Federal University of Technology, Akure 1981 Federal

18 Federal University of Technology, Minna 1982 Federal

19 Federal University of Technology, Owerri 1980 Federal

20 Federal University, Oye-Ekiti 2011 Federal

21 Igbinedion University, Okada 1999 Private

22 Kano State University of Science & Technogy, Wudil 2000 State

23 Kwara State University, Malete 2001 State

24 Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso 1990 State

25 Lagos State University, Ojo 1983 State

26 Landmark University, Omu-Aran 2011 Private

27 Madonna University, Okija 1999 Private

28 Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike 1992 Federal

29 Moddibo Adama University of Technology, Yola 1988 Federal

30 Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island 2000 State

31 Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna 1985 Federal

32 Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Abuja 2009 Private

33 Nnamdi AzikiweUniversity, Awka 1992 Federal

34 Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 1962 Federal

35 Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye 1982 State

36 Osun State University, Osogbo 2006 State

37 Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Port

Harcourt

1979 State

38 University of Agriculture, Makurdi 1988 Federal

39 University of Benin, Benin City 1970 Federal

40 University of Ibadan, Ibadan 1948 Federal

41 University of Ilorin, Ilorin 1975 Federal

42 University of Lagos, Lagos 1962 Federal

43 University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri 1975 Federal

44 University of Nigeria, Nsukka 1960 Federal

45 University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt 1975 Federal

46 University of Uyo, Uyo 1991 Federal

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) was formed in the United Kingdom in June 1957 and

inaugurated at a ceremony that took place at the Nigeria House in London in February 1958. The

initial motivation included meeting the particular needs of Nigerian engineering students studying in

the UK; and graduate engineers undergoing practical training to become chartered engineers, as well

as overcoming the challenges of racial discrimination against Nigerian engineers in colonial Nigeria.

It was reconstituted in Nigeria in January 1959 and the London based organization formed earlier

became its first branch. The NSE now has about sixty branches in many Cities and towns in Nigeria,

and so many divisions such as Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Nigerian Institution of

Mechanical Engineers, Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, etc.

The Association of Consulting Engineers, Nigeria, now Association for Consulting Engineering in

Nigeria (ACEN) was formed in 1971 by a group of senior engineers in the private sector to ensure

that the ethics of the engineering profession was observed by consulting engineers.

COREN was established by decree 55 of 1970 as Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria and

amended by decree 27 of 1992 as the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria to

accommodate all cadres in the engineering family. The law establishing COREN is now an Act of

the Parliament, cited as Engineers (Registration, etc) Act Cap E11 of the Laws of the Federation of

Nigeria, 2004.

The mandate of COREN is the regulation of engineering in Nigeria, in all aspects and ramifications.

These, among others, include:

Accreditation of Engineering Programmes;

Registration of Engineering Personnel and Firms; and

Regulation and Control of Engineering Practice.

III. High Level Policy Forum on Engineering Accreditation and Mobility in Africa (18 July 2016)

This High Level Policy Forum was organised by COREN in collaboration with UNESCO, ISTIC and

FEIAP.

The programme of the Forum is attached in Appendix 2. About 65 participants attended the Forum.

They came from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Sudan, Tanzania and Kenya. They were from Councils

of Registration of Engineers, faculty deans, heads of departments and senior academic staff members.

The presentation materials are attached in Appendix 3.

Figure 1 The presentation by Ir. Professor Dr. Chuah Hean Teik

Figure 2 The High Level Forum

Figure 3 The opening ceremony

Findings and observations:

(1) The FEIAP Review Panel was very impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm shown by

COREN, academic deans and professors, as well as the Nigerian Government during the

Forum. Goodwill messages were delivered by:

a. The Honourable Minster, Federal Ministry of Environment, represented by Dr. Bukar

Hassan

b. The High Commissioner of Malaysia to Nigeria, His Excellency Datuk Lim Juay Jin

c. A member of House of Representatives, Engr. Ali Wudil, FNSE

d. The Honourable Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN,

represented by Engr. Bala Danshehu, FNSE

e. The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu

f. The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Rural Development, Engr. Suleiman

Adamu, FNSE

The Honourable Minister of State for Industries, Trade and Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar

and the Secretary to the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Engr. Prof.

Michael Faborode, FNSE also attended.

(2) Addresses were also made by UNESCO Regional Director in Nigeria, Dr. Benoit Sossou,

represented by Dr. Enang Moma and Director of UNESCO Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Shabaz Khan.

(3) From the presentation from Kenya Engineering Council, there is a proper accreditation system

and registration of engineers system practiced in Kenya. Outcome-based engineering

education has also been started in Kenya. This FEIAP Review Panel took the opportunity to

invite Kenya to be FEIAP economy and propose for them to officially apply for FEIAP to

review their engineering accreditation system.

(4) From the presentation from Tanzania Engineering Registration Board, there is a proper

accreditation system and registration of engineers system practiced in Tanzania. This FEIAP

Review Panel took the opportunity to invite Tanzania to be FEIAP economy and propose for

them to officially apply for FEIAP to review their engineering accreditation system.

(5) From the presentation from Sudan Engineering Council, there is a proper accreditation system

and registration of engineers system practiced in Sudan. This FEIAP Review Panel took the

opportunity to invite Sudan to be FEIAP economy and propose for them to officially apply for

FEIAP to review their engineering accreditation system.

(6) The Engineering Council of Ghana has just recently been approved by an Act of Parliament.

They are currently focusing on registration of engineers. The accreditation of engineering

program is still conducted by The Institution of Engineers Ghana and other relevant bodies.

Thus, the FEIAP Review Panel could not ascertain the engineering accreditation practice in

Ghana.

(7) As for Cameroon, they are currently conducting a survey to obtain feedback on expectation

and requirement of engineering degree programmes.

(8) A communique was issued at the end of the Forum as attached in Appendix 4.

IV. General Findings on the Manual of Accreditation

The general findings on the manual of accreditation as follows:

(1) Under COREN, there is a Benchmarking Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) containing

minimum criteria for accreditation of engineering degree programmes. Latest 2014 version is

attached in Appendix 5. The FEIAP Review Panel observed that the following important sections

for approval and accreditation of engineering programmes are available in the manual BMAS:

a) Philosophy and programme objectives

b) Learning outcome of the graduates

c) Student admission

d) Academic staff and staff/student ration

e) General guidelines for general engineering courses and specific content for various disciplines

f) Facilities: library, resources and lab facilities

g) Industrial attachment

h) Course evaluation and grading systems

i) Graduation requirements

(2) That is also COREN accreditation score sheet in the BMAS.

No. Criteria for Assessment Score

1. Academic content 29

2. Staffing 27

3. Physical facilities for the programme 23

4. Library facilities 10

5. Funding of programme 5

6. Employer’s rating of graduates 2

7. Overall management of programme 4

Grand total 100

At the end of accreditation visitation, a programme gets Full Accreditation, Interim Accreditation

or Failed Accreditation.

Where the marks scored is:

Greater than or equal to 70% = Full Accreditation

60-69% = Interim Accreditation

Less than 60% = Failed Accreditation

(3) The FEIAP Review Panel was made to understand if the programme is given an interim

accreditation for two years, actions must be taken to meet all the given conditions before the next

visit. If the programme fails the accreditation for the second time, the programme will be

discontinued. Even if a program is given full accreditation, COREN reserves the right to make a

surprise site visit to ensure proper conduct of the programme and availability of all the resources

and facilities.

(4) The COREN Evaluation Panel for accreditation normally consists of two members, one academic

and one from industry. It will normally take three days during which employer’s survey, dialogue

with students and staffs are included.

(5) For any engineering programme to commence after the University is given approval by the

National Universities Commission (NUC), COREN will first carry out resource verification to

assess staffing and facilities on ground. Based on such assessment/verification, COREN will give

or deny approval for commencement of the degree programme.

(6) The engineering programmes at Nigeria are of 4 year duration for students admitted after GCE

“A” level or 5 years for students admitted after GCE “O” level.

V. Observation during Visit to Two Nigerian Universities arranged by COREN

During this FEIAP review visit, COREN arranged for the FEIAP Review Panel to visit two

universities whose degree programmes have been accredited by COREN:

(1) School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SEET), Federal University of Technology

(FUT), Minna

(2) Faculty of Engineering, Bayero University (BU), Kano

The visit programme to FUT and BU is shown in Appendix 6.

During these visits, the FEIAP Review Panel observed the following:

(1) For each degree programme accredited, there is a Self Study Report (SSR) submitted to COREN

when application for accreditation is made. This FEIAP Review Panel read the SSR submitted by

Civil Engineering Programme from FUT, and the SSR’s submitted by Electrical Engineering,

Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering programmes by BU.

(2) There is an exit meeting at the end of the accreditation visit by the COREN Panel of Assessors as

stipulated by BMAS. This FEIAP Review Panel cited the report of the Panel of Assessors given

by COREN to the Department of Civil Engineering, FUT.

(3) This FEIAP Review Panel observed that the workshop and the lab facilities at FUT are equipped

with modern training modules and equipment mainly funded by Tertiary Education Trust Fund

(TETFund), particularly for Chemical Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering and

Telecommunication Engineering laboratories.

(4) This FEIAP Review Panel also visited the Faculty Library, University Library, and laboratory

facilities for Mechanical and Electrical programmes in BU. Again the Panel observed some good

facilities donated by TETFund, and some traditional training equipment which are good for

training of engineering students.

(5) Although BMAS of COREN does suggest learning outcome of the programme, this Review Panel

is of the opinion that Outcome Based Engineering Education is not fully understood by the

Faculty administration, Academic staff and students for both FUT and BU.

VI. Findings

(1) COREN has the statutory power to regulate engineering practices in Nigeria. It also has the

authority to accredit engineering degree programmes.

(2) Governance structure of COREN is well documented and practiced.

(3) The accreditation criteria and the accreditation process found in the 2014 Edition of the COREN

BMAS for approval and accreditation of engineering programmes are comprehensive.

(4) The FEIAP Review Panel is of the opinion that COREN is strict in accrediting the engineering

programmes in Nigeria.

(5) From the visits to the two universities arranged by COREN, The FEIAP Review Panel is of the

view that the engineering education approach currently practised is still very much input-based,

and not outcome-based.

(6) COREN is very committed in doing international benchmarking of engineering education so that

the standard of engineering graduates trained in Nigeria will be at par with those trained in other

economies in Asia and the Pacific.

VII. Areas for Improvement

(1) Though there is a mention of learning outcomes for engineering graduates in BMAS,

FEIAP Review Panel strongly suggests COREN should take a lead to promote outcome-based

engineering education in Nigerian universities. The following action could be taken:

(a) Inclusion of outcome-based engineering approach such as programme objectives, degree

programme outcomes, course learning outcomes, continuous quality improvement and quality

management concept, involvement of the stake holders such as academic staff, student,

industry player, alumni and authority in education process.

(b) Training on outcome-based education by inviting experts from other FEIAP economies who

have fully implemented outcome-based engineering education. This training could be given to

COREN, university administration staff, professors and academic staff, as well as panel of

assessors.

(c) Specific targeted date for implementation of outcome-based engineering education in all

Nigerian universities (such as in the next two years).

(2) The input from industry for continuous improvement should not be just limited to employer

survey. There should be engagement such as industry advisory system where industry players are

invited to give input regularly to the programme. Such input should be properly documented and

implemented.

(3) Regional and international bench-marking by the university should further be strengthened with

international external examiner system or with regular workshops where experts from other

countries be invited to share experiences with the faculty staff.

VIII. Recommendations

Recommendations of the Reviewers will be submitted to the coming FEIAP Exco.

IX. Acknowledgements

The FEIAP Review Panel would like to thank COREN, UNESCO Jakarta, UNESCO Abuja and

ISTIC for organising this High Level Policy Forum on Engineering Accreditation and Mobility in

Africa. We would like to record our appreciation and gratitude to COREN, FUT and BU for the

hospitality and arrangement during our visit.

Appendix 1: Schedule of Review Team of FEIAP from July 17-22, 2016

Date: 17-22 April 2016 deferred to 17-22 July 2016

Team Member:

(a) Ir. Prof. Dr. Chuah Hean Teik, Immediate Past-President FEIAP

(b) Ir. Dr. Tan Chee Fai, Executive Committee Member, IEM

Arrival – Sunday, 17 July 2016

(EK343 KUL/DXB 0210-0455, EK785 DXB/ABV 1045-1500)

Departure – Friday, 22 July 2016

(EK786 ABV/DXB 1835-0445, DXB/KUL 1030-2150)

Date Activity Venue Timing/

Remarks

(Hrs)

1. 17 July 2016

(Sunday)

Arrival

Cocktail by COREN

Abuja, Nigeria

Nicon Luxury Hotel,

Abuja, Nigeria

1500

1900

2. 18 July 2016

(Monday)

High Level Policy Forum on

Engineering Accreditation and

Mobility in Africa

Technical sessions

Panel discussion I:

Inter-regional cooperation for

engineering accreditation and

mobility between Africa and Asia

and the Pacific

Panels:

Speaker 1: Prof. Dr. Shabaz Khan

UNESCO’s role in

standardization of engineering

education

Speaker 2: Academician Dato

Prof. Ir. Dr. Chuah Hean Teik

Overall view of Accreditation and

FEIAP Engineering Education

Guidelines and Engineers’

mobility

Nicon Luxury Hotel,

Abuja, Nigeria

0900-1800

0900-1100

Speaker 3: Engr. Kashin A.Ali,

President of COREN: The role of

COREN in mentoring

engineering qualifications and

mobility in Africa

Question and answers

Opening ceremony

Welcome address by Engr.

Kashim A. Ali

Address by Dr. Enang Moma,

Representative of UNESCO

Abuja

Address by Prof. Dr. Shahbaz

Khan, Director, UNESCO Jakarta

Address by Academician Dato

Prof. Ir. Dr. Chuah Hean Teik,

FEIAP

Goodwill messages were

delivered by:

a. The Honourable Minster,

Federal Ministry of

Environment, represented by

Dr. Bukar Hassan

b. The High Commissioner of

Malaysia to Nigeria, His

Excellency Datuk Lim Juay

Jin

c. A member of House of

Representatives, Engr. Ali

Wudil, FNSE

d. The Honourable Minister of

Power, Works & Housing,

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN,

represented by Engr. Bala

Danshehu, FNSE

e. The Honourable Minister,

Federal Ministry of

Communications, Barr.

Adebayo Shittu

f. The Honourable Minister of

Water Resources and Rural

Development, Engr. Suleiman

Adamu, FNSE

The Honourable Minister of State

for Industries, Trade and

Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar

and the Secretary to the

11-1300

Committee of Vice Chancellors

of Nigerian Universities, Engr.

Prof. Michael Faborode, FNSE

also attended.

Technical sessions

Panel Discussion II:

Experience of standardization of

engineering qualification from

other African countries

Introduction by Mr. Alain Michel

Tchadie, Consultant UNESCO

Jakarta

Speaker 1: Engr. Prof. J.O.O.

Olorummaiye, University of

IIorin, Nigeria: Overview on the

benchmarking minimum

academic standards and

accreditation scoring criteria for

undergraduate engineering

programmes in Nigerian

Universities (BMAS)

Speaker 2: Eng. Benedict

Mukama, Assistant Registrar,

Engineers Registration Board

(ERB), Tanzania: Engineers’

Accreditation and mobility in

Tanzania and East Africa

Speaker 3: Ing. Augustine Kuuire,

Board Chairman, Engineering

Council Ghana: Engineers’

accreditation and mobility in

West Africa

Speaker 4: Cons. Eng. Nadia

Mahmoud Abderrahman,

Secretary General, Sudan

Engineering Council: Engineering

qualification in Sudan

Speaker 5: Prof. Robert Nzengwa,

Dean of the Faculty of Industrial

Engineering, University of

Douala, Cameroon: Engineering

accreditation in Cameroon and

efforts for standardization in

Central African countries

Questions and answers

1300-1530

Lunch

Wrap up and conclusion

Rapporteur: Prof. Dr. Shahbaz

Khan, UNESCO Jakarta

Panelists

Engr. Kashim A Ali, President of

COREN

Academician Dato Prof. Ir. Dr.

Chuah Hean Teik

1530-1600

1600-1800

3. 19 July 2016

(Tuesday)

Accreditation Visit -1

School of Engineering

Technology (SEET), Federal

University of Technology, Minna,

Nigeria

Minna, Nigeria

0900-1900

4. 20 July 2016

(Wednesday)

Flight to Kano, Nigeria

Cocktail session by Faculty of

Engineering, Bayero University,

Kano, Nigeria

Kano. Nigeria

Tahir Guest Palace,

Kano, Nigeria

1400-1500

1900

5. 21 July 2016

(Thursday)

Accreditation Visit -2

Faculty of Engineering, Bayero

University, Kano, Nigeria

Kano, Nigeria

0900-1600

6. 22 July 2016

(Friday)

Departure to Abuja by Van

Departure to Malaysia

Abuja 0600-1130

2345

7. 24 July 2016

(Sunday)

Arrival Malaysia 0855

Appendix 2: Programme of High Level Policy Forum on Engineering Accreditation and Mobility in

Africa, Abuja, Nigeria

Appendix 3: Presentation Material of High Level Policy Forum on Engineering Accreditation and

Mobility in Africa, Abuja, Nigeria

Appendix 4: A Communique after High Level Policy Forum on Engineering Accreditation and

Mobility in Africa, Abuja, Nigeria

Appendix 5: COREN Benchmarking Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS)

Appendix 6: Visit Programme to FUT and BU