St Joseph Engineering College Vamanjoor, Mangaluru
An Autonomous Institution
OBE at SJEC
OUTCOME BASED EDUCATION (OBE) AT SJEC
ABOUT OBE
OBE is an educational theory that bases each part of an educational system around goals (outcomes). According to Ron Brandt “Outcome-based education (OBE) is about preparing students for life, not simply getting them ready for college or employment”. It is based on four concepts, 1) clarity of focus (curriculum design, instructional delivery, assessment is in line with the expected outcome), 2) expanded opportunity (ways and number of times students get a chance to learn and demonstrate), 3) high expectations (all students able to do significant things) and 4) design down (design curriculum from the perspective of expected outcome). Outcome-based methods have been adopted in education systems around the world, at multiple levels. In an international effort to accept OBE, the Washington Accord was created in 1989. The Washington Accord countries recognize undergraduate engineering degrees that were obtained using OBE methods.
RELEVANCE OF OBE
Engineering Education in India is changing from a traditional teaching, learning method to OBE. Accreditation agencies like NAAC and NBA are facilitating this shift in engineering education to enhance the quality of education and to make the students globally competitive. The OBE approach has become one of the prime criteria for the quality enhancement, sustainment and accreditation across the globe, more specifically in India as per the statutory bodies.
OBE AT SJEC
At SJEC, the OBE system has been implemented since 2011. It has been fine-tuned and institutionalized through focused policy formation and training. The NBA Expert Team had visited the college 22nd March 2019 lauded our efforts and encouraged us to go further in this direction. Based on that visit, four of our B.E. Programs have been Re-Accredited by NBA, New Delhi, for a period of three years from July 2019 to June 2022. Moreover, The Indo Universal Collaboration for Engineering Education (IUCEE) has recognized SJEC, as a ‘Transformational Leader in Engineering Education – 2017’ for the holistic implementation and sustainment of OBE.
Various committees such as Industry Alumni Advisory Board (IAAB), Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Department Advisory Board (DAB) and Program Assessment Committee (PAC), have been formed by drawing members from Industry, Alumni, Parents, Management, Faculty, Staff and Students. These committees guide and monitor the implementation of OBE in the college.
