A Great Start with Outcome Based Education

This Google Site is created to guide students in understanding Outcome-Based Education (OBE) within the Diploma in Civil Engineering (EC110/ CEEC110) programme offered by the Faculty of Civil Engineering, UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang. OBE briefings conducted by lecturers at the beginning of each semester for every course are essential, as they play a vital role in increasing student awareness and promoting active engagement throughout the learning process. These briefings ensure that students are clearly informed about the Course Outcomes (COs) and how they contribute to the attainment of the Programme Outcomes (POs), which are aligned with the Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs) and the requirements of the Engineering Technician Education Programme Accreditation Standard. By understanding the relationships among COs, POs, and PEOs, students can better appreciate the relevance of each course in developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to become competent, industry-ready civil engineering technicians.

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Understanding Outcome Based Education (OBE) for Students

Outcome-Based Education (OBE) is a student-centred educational approach that focuses on what students are expected to achieve by the end of a course or programme. In OBE, learning is not just about completing assignments or attending lectures — it's about developing specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are measurable and relevant to your future career.
Why OBE Matters to Students?

Clear Learning Goals
You will know exactly what you are expected to learn (called Course Outcomes or Learning Outcomes). These outcomes guide what is taught, how it is taught, and how you are assessed.
Active Involvement in Learning
OBE encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning. You are not just passive listeners — you are actively involved in solving problems, completing projects, and applying your knowledge.
Industry-Relevant Skills
The Programme Outcomes (POs) and Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs) are aligned with what employers look for. This means you are being prepared to meet real-world demands in your field, such as communication, teamwork, ethics, and technical skills.
Fair and Transparent Assessment
Your performance is evaluated based on clear criteria linked to the learning outcomes. You always know what is being assessed and why.
Supports Lifelong Learning
OBE equips you with critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed beyond graduation. It encourages continuous self-improvement and adaptability.

Importance of Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs)

Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs) are essential components of an academic programme, especially under the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) framework as required by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Council (ETAC). They define what graduates are expected to achieve within 3 to 5 years after completing the programme.
PEOs guide the overall direction of the curriculum, ensure alignment with industry and stakeholder expectations, and support continuous quality improvement. They help institutions produce graduates who are not only technically competent but also capable of effective communication, ethical decision-making, and lifelong learning. Moreover, PEOs are a key requirement for accreditation, ensuring that the programme remains relevant, accountable, and outcome-oriented.

New Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs) for a Diploma in Civil Engineering programme align with the ETAC Standard (2024)

Programme Outcomes (POs) in Engineering Education

Programme Outcomes (POs) are essential components of Outcome-Based Education (OBE). They describe what students are expected to know, do, and value by the time they graduate from a programme.

Why POs Are Important?

Clear Goals
POs help you understand what you need to learn and achieve by the time you graduate.

Job-Ready Skills
POs are designed based on what industries and employers need — so you gain real-world knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Fair Assessment
Your assignments, tests, and projects are based on POs. This makes sure everyone is assessed clearly and fairly.

Better Learning
POs help your lecturers plan lessons and activities that match what you need to know and do.

Lifelong Benefits
POs prepare you to keep learning, solve problems, and grow professionally — even after you graduate.

12 POs as outlined in the Engineering Technician Education Programme Accreditation Standard (ETAC Standard 2020)

In 2024, the Centre of Engineering Studies (CES), UiTM, revised the Programme Outcomes (POs) to align with the new Engineering Technician Education Programme Accreditation Standard (ETAC Standard 2024). The table presents the descriptions of the new 11 POs, which will be implemented beginning in the October 2025 – February 2026 semester (Cohort 20254).

In Short: Programme Outcomes are not just checkboxes for graduation—they are critical success factors that ensure students leave the diploma programme with the competence, confidence, and character needed to thrive in the civil engineering industry

Well-Defined Engineering Components

In the context of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and the Engineering Technician Education Programme Accreditation Standard (ETAC), Well-Defined Engineering (WDE) is structured into three key components, commonly referred to as DK, DP, and NA. These elements are used to describe the depth and scope of knowledge, problem-solving, and practical skills that engineering technician graduates are expected to possess.
Purpose and Relevance
These three elements—DK, DP, and NA—are mapped to each Programme Outcome (PO) in the curriculum to:

Ensure alignment with the ETAC accreditation standard
Help design appropriate Course Outcomes (COs)
Guide the development of formative and summative assessments
Support continuous quality improvement (CQI) and PO attainment tracking

What is a Course Outcome (CO)?

Course Outcomes (COs) are specific learning goals that describe what you should know, understand, and be able to do after completing a particular course or subject in your Diploma in Civil Engineering (EC110/ CEEC110) programme.

Why COs Are Important?

Guide Your Learning - COs help you understand what to focus on in class, tutorials, labs, and assignments.

Show Your Progress - COs make it clear what you’ve achieved at the end of each course.

Link to Programme Outcomes (POs) - Every CO is linked to one or more POs. This helps ensure all POs are covered across the programme.
Support Fair Assessment - Exams, quizzes, and assignments are designed to test your achievement of the COs.

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In Short: Course Outcomes (COs) help you stay on track in each subject and ensure that, by the end of your diploma, you’ve gained the right knowledge and skills to become a competent civil engineering technician.

Learning Domains in Outcome Based Education (OBE)

In OBE, learning is not just about remembering facts, it's about developing knowledge, skills, and attitudes. These are organized into three main learning domains, based on Bloom's Taxonomy:

🧠 Cognitive Domain – "Thinking"
✋ Psychomotor Domain – "Doing"
❤️ Affective Domain – "Feeling & Values"

Why These Domains Matter in OBE?

Help design meaningful Programme Outcomes (POs) and Course Outcomes (COs) - Domains guide lecturers to design meaningful learning outcomes aligned with ETAC standards.
Guide assessment methods (e.g., written test vs. lab vs. observation) - This ensures fair and accurate evaluation of each student’s progress.
Ensure balanced student development — not just knowledge, but skills and values, this balance is essential to produce industry-ready graduates.
Meet the standards set by ETAC for diploma - Using domains correctly helps maintain programme accreditation.

🧠 Cognitive domain is about thinking, problem-solving, understanding, reasoning and applying knowledge.
Linked to Course Outcomes like: “Apply knowledge of mathematics and science.”

✋ Psychomotor domain is about physical and motor skills — hands on using tools, instruments, or machines.
Linked to POs like: “Use modern engineering tools and techniques.”

❤️ Affective domain is about attitudes, values, teamwork, and ethics.
Linked to POs like: “Work ethically, responsibly, and effectively in teams.”

In Outcome-Based Education (OBE), assessments help measure how well students are achieving the intended learning outcomes (Course Outcomes or Programme Outcomes). These assessments are grouped into two main types. Both types of assessment are important in OBE to ensure that:

You receive continuous support in your learning journey (formative),
And your performance is fairly evaluated at the end (summative).

How Learning Domains Relate to CO, PO and Assessment?
In Outcome-Based Education (OBE), all educational components are interconnected:

Learning Domains guide how knowledge, skills, and attitudes are taught and assessed.
These domains are directly mapped to Programme Outcomes (POs) and Course Outcomes (COs).
Assessments measure the extent to which these outcomes and domains are achieved.

Level of Difficulty by Year and Domain

Levels of difficulty for each learning domain (Cognitive, Psychomotor, Affective), typically aligned with the year of study in a Diploma in Civil Engineering (EC110/ CEEC110) programme under the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) system.
🧠 Cognitive DomainYear 1: Focuses on basic concepts, facts, and understanding principles.Year 2: Involves applying knowledge to solve problems and interpreting results.Year 3: Requires critical thinking, making decisions, and designing small systems.
✋ Psychomotor DomainYear 1: Students learn to handle tools and perform simple tasks.Year 2: Skills become more precise and independent (e.g., using total stations).Year 3: Students demonstrate fluency and multi-step skills in real or simulated work.
❤️ Affective DomainYear 1: Encourages awareness of rules, punctuality, and willingness to cooperate.Year 2: Focuses on valuing teamwork, showing responsibility in assignments.Year 3: Emphasizes ethical decisions, leadership in group work, and self-motivation.
Why This Progression Matters?

Ensures balanced student development across all years
Matches learning outcomes (POs/COs) to appropriate assessment methods
Prepares students step-by-step for real-world civil engineering roles

Programme Outcome (PO) Attainment refers to how well you, as a student, have achieved the key learning outcomes expected by the end of your diploma programme. These outcomes are based on what you should know, do, and value after completing your courses.
Why Is PO Attainment Important for You?

It helps track your learning progress
It shows how well you meet the programme’s educational goals
It ensures you are becoming a competent, industry-ready technician
It supports the quality and accreditation of your diploma

How Do You Check Your PO Attainment?You can access your PO attainment results through:
📌 MyReflections System - Available on the FKA UiTMCPP website under the Academic Advisory Unit (AAU).

FKA Website

What You’ll Do in MyReflections?

View your PO attainment scores for each semester
Reflect on your learning progress
Give feedback about your achievement

When Is PO Attainment Data Available?

After lecturers complete CDL-CQI analysis
Once your official exam results are released

How OBE Affects You as EC110/ CEEC110 Student?

At the beginning of each semester, your lecturers will brief you on the Course Outcomes (COs), which are mapped to Programme Outcomes (POs).
Your coursework, tests, lab work, and projects will be assessed according to how well you meet these outcomes.
Feedback is given to help you understand your progress and areas for improvement.

In Summary:OBE helps you become not just a graduate, but a competent, confident, and career-ready engineering technician. By knowing what you are expected to achieve, you can take charge of your own learning journey and graduate with the skills and attitudes needed to succeed in the civil engineering industry.

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