Design and Execution of Strategies for Effective Implementation of Outcomes Based Education (OBE) in Engineering

Abstract

Outcomes based education is at the center of engineering education today. National board of accreditation (NBA) in accordance with Washington accord has laid down the requirements that must be satisfied by engineering graduates in order to make them compatible and acceptable by the world outside. It is learnt that, the effective implementation of Outcomes Based Education (OBE) framework definitely gives fruitful results in the form of attributes that are achieved by graduates passing out from the programme. At the same time, implementation of OBE is a tedious and time consuming exercise. This necessitates that the systematic plan is prepared and implemented to get the intended results after the implementation.

The present paper focuses on the systematic and step wise plan designed and executed to understand and experience OBE framework. An awareness was created amongst the students and faculty about OBE framework that includes design of Programme Educational Objectives, Program Outcomes, Course Learning Outcomes, their mapping and assessment procedure. A systematic methodology was developed to ensure system in place for design of formats and for exhaustive collection of required data for attainment of course outcomes, program outcomes and program educational objectives. Attainment of all the courses contributing to POs, attainment of all POs and attainment of PEOs was calculated with appropriate selection and use of direct and indirect assessment tools. Finally, results on level of attainment of CLOs, POs and PEOs are presented to be useful in removing lacunae if any, in curriculum design, delivery of instructions and assessment methods.