ST. JOHN’S, NL – It feels great when a student scores 100 per cent on an evaluation; it feels even better when a passing grade is given to an entire school of study.
Sonny Hegde, College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Dean of the School of Engineering, was thrilled to learn that five programs under his purview recently received full accreditation from Technology Accreditation Canada (TAC).
The five accredited programs include: Architectural Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Petroleum Engineering Technology. Hegde explains that achieving this distinction means these programs had to undergo a rigorous testing process.
“National program accreditation involves an independent team of certified professionals performing an extensive audit, which provides graduates and employers confidence that these programs meet the educational standards of Canada’s engineering technology profession.”
Students realize that being enrolled in accredited programs are a huge benefit for them once they start their careers in these fields.
“When graduating from a nationally accredited program, our students are provided a pathway to becoming a certified professional with the Association of Engineering Technicians and Technologists of Newfoundland and Labrador (AETTNL), which is an organization that represents the interests of technicians and technologists in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Hegde explains that accreditation also ensures students are receiving high-calibre programs.
“Accreditation is the quality assurance process that our programs undergo to confirm that they meet a strict and recognized set of standards,” said the dean. “Furthermore, accreditation aims to ensure accountability of our college and diploma programs, which boosts public trust and confidence. When an institution or diploma program is properly accredited, you are able to gauge its overall quality without having to conduct a detailed analysis on your own.”
As an added bonus, these programs are also recognized by the International Engineering Alliance under the Sydney Accord, which means CNA graduates will have qualifications that are internationally recognized. This is especially helpful for international students choosing to study at CNA.
“For our international students, choosing to study abroad is a major decision which means students need as much information and help as possible to ensure that they will have a positive and useful learning experience while they are away,” he said. “One of the main issues concerning students and their parents is the quality of the resources and teaching they will receive. This accreditation ensures that our college will provide a high-quality educational experience giving our students that vital peace of mind.”
Expressing how extremely proud he was of the achievement; Hegde credits the dedication and support of faculty and staff for ensuring quality standards are continuously met.
For more information about program in the School of Engineering Technology, visit
www.cna.nl.ca.
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Media contact:
Ryanne McIsaac
Content Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7870
Ryanne.mcisaac@cna.nl.ca