AGREEMENT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN AGENCY FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING PROGRAMS – ACAAI

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Among us: University of El Salvador, Salvadoran Association of Engineers and Architects, Technological University of Panama, Federated College of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica, Autonomous University of Nicaragua-León, National University of Engineering of Nicaragua, College of Architects of Nicaragua, Federation of Engineering Organizations of Central America and Panama, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, College of Architects of Guatemala, College of Engineers of Guatemala, College of Chemical Engineers of Guatemala, University of Design of Costa Rica, National Autonomous University of Honduras, College of Engineers of Honduras, Ibero-American University of Science and Technology of Nicaragua, Polytechnic University of Nicaragua, National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation of Panama, College of Engineers of Nicaragua, Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects, University of the Isthmus of Guatemala, University of the Valley of Guatemala, College of Architects of Honduras, University of Panama, Don Bosco University of El Salvador, University of Commercial Sciences of Nicaragua, National University of Engineering of Nicaragua, National Autonomous University from Nicaragua, Managua, Catholic University of Nicaragua, University of Costa Rica, Rafael Landívar University of Guatemala, University of the Valley of Nicaragua, Central American University José Simeón Cañas of El Salvador, Central American University of Nicaragua, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, Francisco Gavidia University of El Salvador, Polytechnic University of El Salvador, Salvadoran Federation of Engineers and Architects and Related Branches.

CONSIDERING:

That quality education in engineering and architecture is essential for the development of Central American countries and the region in general.

That the shared vision of development by the Central American countries constitutes the fundamental support for the harmonious and coherent achievement of a project of continuous improvement of the quality in the education of the engineering and architecture professions in Central America.

That the accreditation of engineering and architecture programs is a basic instrument to promote the improvement of the quality of said programs and to offer society relevant information about that quality.

Accreditation is the act by which the recognition granted to a higher education program is made public, which, fulfilling the previously established conditions and quality standards, has voluntarily submitted to this process that consists of the evaluation of aspects that fully inform about the state of the program.

There is a convergence of purposes that favors an initiative to promote, organize and recognize the quality of engineering and architecture programs in the region.

The establishment of quality assurance systems for engineering and architecture programs is imperative in response to the context of economic and social globalization; and such systems contribute to the mutual recognition of academic and professional competencies among different countries and regions.

It is necessary to create a specialized regional body, with a Central American perspective and scope, that defines, regulates and applies principles and standards of good practice for the accreditation of Architecture and Engineering study programs.

That the regional recognition of the accreditation of the quality of architecture and engineering study programs will contribute to the international recognition of the quality of degrees and titles awarded, to academic mobility, and to strengthening the international recognition of the quality of these degrees and the higher education institutions to which they belong.

The initiative taken by the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA), to convene various sectors committed to the improvement and assurance of the quality of higher education in the region, to hold the Central American Forums for the Accreditation of Architecture and Engineering Programs and to be part of the integration process of the Central American Agency for Accreditation of Architecture and Engineering Programs (ACAAI), has been pertinent and timely.

That the region needs to promote and develop specialized systems for quality assurance in higher education, which comply with internationally accepted principles of good practice and recognize the unique characteristics of each country and the Central American region.

The initiative of the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA), the Central American Network of Engineering Institutions (REDICA), the Federated College of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica (CFIA), supported by the German Academic Exchange Agency (DAAD), and the German Foundation for Training for International Development (InWEnt), has been met with interest by representatives of the academic, professional, employer and governmental sectors.

The Council of Rectors, the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects, and the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation of Panama offered to host the ACAAI in the City of Managua, Nicaragua, which was supported by the participants in the II Central American Forum for the Accreditation of Architecture and Engineering Programs.

That the Central American Accreditation Council (CCA) exists as a second-level body for the accreditation of first-level agencies in Central America.

Therefore, they AGREE:

1. Create the Central American Agency for Accreditation of Architecture and Engineering Programs (ACAAI).
2. Approve the Statute of the Central American Agency for Accreditation of Architecture and Engineering Programs, which will form part of this agreement.
3. Create the ACAAI Accreditation Council, whose functions and powers will be determined in the statutes of the Agency, which are approved in this same act.
4. The Council will be made up of eleven full members, representatives with voice and vote as follows: four sectoral representatives (one Architect from the Professional Colleges, one Engineer from the Colleges or Professional Guilds, one representative from the Science and Technology Organizations, one representative from the Central American Union of Chambers) and seven national representatives (one representative elected by each country who must represent the academic, public, private sectors and colleges or professional guilds).
5. The regular and alternate members of the Accreditation Council will be from the professions established in the Statute.
6. Create the Executive Directorate of the ACAAI, whose functions are determined in the statutes of the Agency.
7. Initially, create the Technical Engineering and Architecture Commissions, which will be responsible for developing the criteria and technical manuals for the engineering and architecture accreditation processes and, in general, for everything related to the technical aspects of the processes. They will be coordinated by the Executive Directorate, and each one (engineering and architecture) will have 5 members.
8. Create the Central American Forum for the Accreditation of Architecture and Engineering Programs, which will be the consultative body where the different signatories or adherents of the ACAAI will be represented, whose main function is the strategic feedback that will be given to the Accreditation Council.
9. Approve the financing strategy of the Accreditation Agency, prepared by the Pro-tempore Commission of the Central American Forum for the Accreditation of Architecture and Engineering Programs, for which they agree to contribute a single registration fee of $300.
10. It is agreed that institutions with representatives on the Accreditation Council and Technical Commissions must contribute to the financing of transportation and travel expenses for their participation in ordinary and extraordinary meetings, until the ACAAI achieves its economic sustainability.
11. Establish the headquarters of ACAAI and its Technical Directorate in Panama City, Republic of Panama.
12. Carry out the accreditation process for engineering and architecture programs in Central American countries, based on the criteria that will be established for this purpose.
13. To promote, through ACAAI, the establishment of cooperation and recognition agreements in those countries where national agencies exist, and to collaborate with the accreditation processes of engineering and architecture programs.
14. To agree that the universities signing this Agreement will voluntarily request, to the extent possible, accreditation from the ACAAI for their architecture and/or engineering programs.
15. Promote that Central American States, through the Ministries of Education and the Councils or Secretariats of Science and Technology, seek the provision of additional resources – their own or from international cooperation agencies – to create a fund for the development and strengthening of higher education institutions and programs, which can be accessed on a competitive basis by programs or institutions accredited by the ACAAI.
16. To authorize ACAAI to, on behalf of the signatories, seek to obtain the corresponding legal personality.

In witness whereof, they sign this Agreement in the City of San Salvador, Republic of El Salvador, on July 4, 2006.