The background of quality assurance in higher education and engineering education

This chapter presents a review of the historical, philosophical, political, and social background of Quality Assurance of higher education, in general, and engineering education, in particular. Such a review can help us appreciate how the Quality Assurance movement got to where it is today and the tensions that are inherent in it, as well as provide guidance for its future development. Suggestions for advancing Quality Assurance in Engineering Education are provided at the end of the chapter.