Abstract:

Background. The evolution of educational systems and the rapid advance of technology impact in teaching models as well as syllabus and study programs. The professional activity of graduates of bachelor's degrees requires continuous updating of knowledge about procedures and developments in the discipline.

Problematic. Lack of preparation prior to the process of accreditation, can cause a poor planning on the part of those responsible for the program. Lack of knowledge of the procedures, the lack of attention in compliance with them and a number of important activities, not clearly defined, can be the difference between a conventional accreditation process and a difficult and tiring process for the educational institution.

Importance of facing the problem. The evaluation of academic programs by external peers is a virtuous process, which in higher education institutions are taking increasing strength and in which the administrators will be increasingly involved. For institutions of higher education, it is also important the public recognition of the academic work they perform.

Contribution. The present work provides elements that may be relevant in planning, managing and monitoring an evaluation process for accreditation of an engineering curriculum. The strategy applied to the case study, is "one way" in which it was faced an evaluation process for accreditation, based on the idea that the creation of a strategy will strengthen the work to meet the process, as outlined in the document "Seven Complex Lessons in Education for the Future" of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Concepts, methodologies and techniques used. It was developed using planning techniques (CIPP evaluation model, Stakeholder Analysis, TOWS Analysis and the Delphi technique).

Case study. The designed strategy was implemented in the evaluation process for the accreditation of the academic program of Civil Engineering at FES Aragon UNAM, which was successful and we were quite sure the work planning process (the strategy) was extremely important.

Conclusions and recommendations. The creation of a strategy for an academic program to face the accreditation process will underpin the work of those responsible for this and facilitate decision making. From the experience of the case study, in which it was established a strategy to face the accreditation process, it was considered that this was an important factor in achieving the goals.

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1 Morin, Edgar: Seven Complex Lessons in Education for the Future. Translation by Mercedes Vallejo-Gómez. Mexico: UNESCO: UNESCO Courier, 1999, 108p. ISBN968-7474-6.

2 Sánchez, G. Gabriel 2003, Técnicas Participativas para la Planeación. Mexico, D.F. ICA Foundation, 2003, 342p

Keywords:

Accreditation, evaluation, quality.