The 1989 agreement was a milestone in the advancement and recognition of tertiary engineering qualifications. Among its architects was Engineers Australia, which played a key role in its creation.
Not all engineers are created equal, but in many cases their hard-earned degrees are. For that, the world can thank the Washington Accord, an agreement between engineering accreditation bodies that recognises accredited engineering degrees from any of the member countries.
This self-governing, autonomous agreement was designed to do away with the need for engineers with degrees earned overseas to undertake additional exams or accreditation in order to work in other countries. In this way, it has helped to usher in a new era of globalised engineering.
Genesis of the accord
Prior to the accord’s creation, there were considerable discrepancies in the quality of engineering education programs around the world; engineering qualifications were not always regarded as equivalent to local standards. This wasn’t such a cause for concern when mobile engineering workforces were in their infancy, but as this began to change, several countries recognised the need for an international framework to recognise and standardise engineering education.
In 1989, representatives from six countries – the US, the UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and Australia – gathered in Washington, DC to determine this framework. An agreement was reached to grant equal rights and privileges to graduates of programs accredited by any signatory of the accord.
For the Australian contingent, such an agreement was a long time coming. The country’s representative at the Washington meeting was Engineers Australia, the national body for engineering, which had formed in 1919 with a similar philosophy in mind.
Then known as the Institution of Engineers, Australia, the group amalgamated many existing engineering societies in the country with a goal of standardising high-quality professional conduct and to act as a qualifying body. These virtues were carried over into the Washington Accord.
One of Australia’s strongest proponents of the accord was Professor Robin King AO HonFIEAust CPEng(Ret), then an Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering at the University of Sydney and a prominent figure in Australia’s engineering education sector.
King had started his journey in engineering in Papua New Guinea in the 1970s, an experience that had a profound effect on him.
“Grappling with the engineering challenges of a developing country strengthened my realisation about engineering being a profession,” King, who passed away in 2022, previously told create.
“I saw the importance of establishing, improving and upholding standards to enable engineers to make their contributions to society.”
King’s work with the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) on the Washington Accord inspired him to help countries such as Sri Lanka sign on in the decades that followed.
“I really do take a lot of pride in that,” he said.
Originally known as the Six Nation Accord, the name was eventually changed in order to accommodate expanded membership. Today, the Washington Accord has 25 signatories, and a further six countries hold provisional signatory status.
“Admiral Rorke, then-CEO of the Institution, was invited by the organisers to represent Australia but had other commitments, and so asked me to be the representative,” Douglas Clyde AM HonFIEAust recalled. “The initiative had come from the UK and USA, and the initial draft was prepared by the USA, with only the USA method of accreditation recognised and expected to be adopted by the other countries.
“The British countries demurred. That night, I drafted amendments that would recognise our methods and had them typed by the secretariat next morning. My redraft was accepted as the basis for the document.”
All involved share information and are able to participate in the accreditation processes of their peers. It’s a clear sign that the founding idea was as powerful a unifier as its architects hoped.
Local impact
At home in Australia, the Washington Accord had a positive and profound impact on local engineering programs. Australian university programs were now required to align with international benchmarks in order to be recognised. In the latest Department of Education data from 2023, the highest number of domestic students on record commenced an engineering degree.
Additionally, the accord has driven Australian institutions to continuously evaluate and improve their engineering curricula. This cycle of improvement has ensured Australian engineering graduates are well-prepared to excel in a competitive global workplace.
“My proudest achievements have been to assist in maintaining and raising the standards of our graduates,” King said.
In 2024, King was posthumously made an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of his distinguished service to the engineering profession, tertiary education and to professional organisations.
Karen Whelan FIEAust, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Engineering at Queensland University of Technology, said the Washington Accord continues to guarantee “Australia’s world class qualifications and outcomes”.
“It provides assurance that our graduates meet the international standards for a professional engineer. It means that our graduates are recognised around the world,” she said.
The agreement also inspired the Sydney Accord, which was established in 2001 specifically focused on standardising accreditation for academic courses in engineering technology. This too has grown; the seven founding signatories have since grown to 11, with two provisional signatories.
The Dublin Accord, which focuses on the accreditation of engineering technician education programs, followed in 2002.
The Washington Accord stands as a testament to the power of international collaboration in education and professional development. It is seen as setting the benchmark for the global professional engineer of today.
And Australia’s significant contributions to its establishment and ongoing success underscore the nation’s commitment to high educational standards and global engagement.
These contributions are ongoing, with Engineers Australia’s own Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Taylor HonFIEAust CPEng commencing her appointment as Chair of the IEA and Deputy Chair of the Sydney Accord in 2024, following the conclusion of her term as Chair of the Washington Accord in 2023.
Taylor has had an incredible career as an engineer, volunteer, academic and leader, as recognised by the award of the Peter Russell Nicol Medal in 2021. Her contributions to the governance of the IEA are a natural continuation to engineering and the international community.
As the Australian signatory, Engineers Australia continues to identify and encourage best practice in the accreditation processes as well as the academic preparation of engineers in line with the accord. In doing so, it has transformed the landscape of Australian engineering education.
Thanks to the visionaries of 1989, Australia has become a land of opportunity for visiting engineers from fellow Washington Accord signatories. Meanwhile, a new generation of Australian engineers is able to earn an internationally recognised skill and ply its trade around the world.
I am very grateful that the Washington Accord allowed migration to Australia for me in 2000 with immediate membership for Engineers Australia and immediate recognition of my Professional Engineer registration obtained overseas. RPEQ registration followed in 2001 based on my overseas registration.