IChemE accreditation for University of Oviedo

THE University of Oviedo, Spain, is the latest university to be awarded IChemE accreditation for its chemical engineering undergraduate course.

There are now two accredited universities in Spain, recognised for the quality of their courses and teaching, with Oviedo joining the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, which was accredited in 2010. Oviedo is the only university in the Asturias region of Spain and has 25,000 students. Its chemical engineering course was set up in 1992 as a combined bachelor’s and master’s course, with the standalone bachelor’s course launched in 2010. Around 50 undergraduates start each year.

Accreditation was awarded after a successful accreditation visit and approval by IChemE’s Education and Accreditation Forum (EAF). IChemE director of qualifications and international development Neil Atkinson said that Oviedo’s course is excellent. He added that it is a “step in the right direction” towards developing an active community of professional chemical engineers in Spain.

Jose Mario Diaz Fernandez, Oveido’s head of the Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, said: “I am delighted that the course has received accreditation from IChemE. Chemical engineering is applicable to many industries, and we have worked hard to ensure our students are provided with an interesting course overview, relevant assignments, and an excellent standard of teaching. Accreditation from a global institution validates this hard work and will attract more new talent to the course, and to the university.”