Industry Collaboration and Insights
From our founding in 1932 as the Engineers’ Council for Professional Development (ECPD), ABET has remained rooted in the professional needs of the industries we serve. As a global quality assurance organization focused in higher education, we recognize that the pace of innovation and the evolving demands of the global workforce make industry perspective not just valuable—but essential. That’s why industry engagement is embedded in every facet of our work, from our accreditation criteria to our strategic direction. Many of our expert Program Evaluator volunteers are practicing professionals from industry, and they bring real-world insights to our peer-review process. In addition, industry leaders help shape our governance by serving on bodies like the Industry Advisory Council (IAC), where they offer vital guidance on accreditation policy and act as ambassadors for the value of ABET accreditation across the technical workforce.
Industry Advisory Council
The Industry Advisory Council (IAC) provides ABET leadership with the perspectives of major employers on accreditation policy issues, works with company leaders to develop channels for Program Evaluator recruitment from industry and acts as an advocate for the meaning and value of ABET accreditation to major technical employers and other key ABET stakeholders. Learn more about the IAC and its role by reading the ABET bylaws.
Research has shown that more engagement between academia and industry is needed to equip STEM programs with the skills today’s employers require. Discover the value of ABET quality assurance.
Value of Accreditation to Industry
ABET is widely recognized as the gold standard in quality assurance for technical education—trusted by employers seeking top talent, students pursuing meaningful career paths, and the influencers who help guide those decisions.
Employers, students, and those who influence their decisions don’t consistently understand or pursue the benefits offered by ABET-accredited programs in higher education institutions. As a result, they do not consistently recognize and prioritize ABET accreditation as a distinguishing factor, trustworthy indicator or reputable brand when making educational and hiring decisions.
ABET can make employer and student lives easier.
We can:
- Help employers identify the best technical talent to hire
- Guide students into best quality educational programs that lead to successful career paths
- Equip influencers—such as parents, educators, and counselors—with clear, accessible information to help students make informed choices about high-quality technical education programs.
All it takes is a quick search on Indeed.com to see the over 8,000 jobs requiring the job candidates graduate from an ABET accredited program to see the real value.
IAC Podcast
Highlighting the importance of engaging industry and academia professionals
Episode w/ EngineerGirl
Our IAC Podcast “Empowering the Next Generation of Engineers: A Conversation with Suzanne Beckstoffer and Makayla Headley” explores the value of ABET’s global quality assurance with leaders across industry and academia. Guests unpack the real-world impact of ABET accreditation on education, career readiness, and global opportunities, while offering encouragement to students and families navigating the path to a meaningful STEM future.
Episode w/ Engineering Management Institute
Check out our podcast “How ABET Accreditation Helps You Identify Top Talent” with the Engineering Management Institute which covers the value of ABET quality assurance for employers as they look to hire top talent in today’s global workforce.
Snippet w/ Brad Giles and Stephanie Miller
Preview a 2-minute clip from our episode “Confidence in Program Selection” embedded above.
