How to apply Academic Equivalency EMEA

1. How to Apply for
INCOSE Certification
Academic Equivalency
Dr. Bernardo A. Delicado, ESEP and Courtney Wright, CSEP
24-26 April 2023
Academic Equivalency 1

2. About Me ( Presenter )
bernardo.delicado@incose.net
Academic Equivalency 2
Academic Equivalency Coordinator
Certification Advisory Group (CAG)
INCOSE Central

3. What is INCOSE Certification?
• INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) certification
formally recognizes progress through a career as
someone develops and applies systems engineering knowledge
and practices.
• INCOSE offer three levels of certification ASEP, CSEP and
ESEP.
• One of the requirements for ASEP and CSEP certification
is knowledge of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook.
This can be demonstrated through INCOSE's knowledge exam
or through Academic Equivalency.
Academic Equivalency 3

4. What is INCOSE Certification?
• INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) certification
formally recognizes progress through a career as
someone develops and applies systems engineering knowledge
and practices.
• INCOSE offer three levels of certification ASEP, CSEP and
ESEP.
• One of the requirements for ASEP and CSEP certification
is knowledge of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook.
This can be demonstrated through INCOSE's knowledge exam
or through Academic Equivalency.
Academic Equivalency 4

5. What is Academic Equivalency?
Academic Equivalency 5
Knowledge Exam
Timed exam with multiple choice questions
from INCOSE Systems Engineering handbook
Academic Equivalency
University course using
INCOSE Systems Engineering handbook as textbook
Achieving High Grade in Academic Equivalency Course(s)
Waive Knowledge Exam for ASEP/CSEP

6. Academic Equivalency Benefits
Academic Equivalency 6
INCOSE
• Remove exam as barrier to certification
• ASEP/CSEP candidate afraid to take an exam
• Non-English-speaking candidate completes course
in native language using translated handbook
• Provide benefit to Academic Council members
• Expand understanding of systems engineering
practices beyond systems engineering students
• Expand exposure of INCOSE to students
Expand Knowledge of Systems Engineering
University
• Provide value to students
• Free textbook using associate membership
• Course completion waives SEP exam for
students
• Use INCOSE learning objectives as a resource
• Educate non systems engineering students
about systems engineering practices when used
as elective
• AcEq course can be stand-alone alternative to
SEP exam

7. How Does Academic Equivalency Work?
Academic Equivalency 7
University Requirements to Apply:
• CAB/Academic Council membership
• CSEP or ESEP as POC
Recommend Students Apply for ASEP
“Stop the Clock” for the Exam Requirement in CSEP
University Application:
• Identify assessment type for each
INCOSE learning objective
• Provide syllabus for equivalent course(s)
• Show INCOSE SE Handbook is a required
textbook
University Effort after AcEq Award:
• Submit list of students after course completion
• Renew application every 3 years
Student Effort for ASEP/CSEP:
• Join INCOSE as an individual member
• Submit 1-page ASEP application with fee within
1 year of course completion

8. Options for AcEq Course(s)
Academic Equivalency 8
One Course Multiple Courses
Modify
Create
Identify What Works Best for Your University

9. Options for AcEq Course(s)
Academic Equivalency 9
Update Existing Course
• Perform gap analysis to INCOSE learning objectives
• Add/modify content to support modified
assessments
• Make sure INCOSE handbook is a required
textbook

10. Options for AcEq Course(s)
Academic Equivalency 10
Create New Course
• Start with INCOSE learning objectives
• Create content to support assessments aligned with
learning objectives
• Use INCOSE handbook as required textbook

11. Options for AcEq Course(s)
Academic Equivalency 11
Select Multiple Courses
• Map INCOSE learning objectives to existing courses
• Make sure INCOSE handbook is a required textbook in each course

12. Implementation of Academic Equivalency
• Students do well in required courses
• University sends a list of student names and INCOSE IDs to
INCOSE (typically 1 to 3 times per year, at end of each term)
• INCOSE notes these students have met knowledge
requirement (good for 12 months)
• Students apply for certification
• Membership
• Certification application
Academic Equivalency 12

13. How Does a University Apply for AcEq?
• Fill out interest form online
• https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/654df1f805b944cc8bc5771cc7d7b9
be
• Meet administrative requirements
• CAB / Academic Council membership
• CSEP or ESEP POC
• INCOSE SE Handbook as required materials
• Signed Memorandum of Agreement (lawyer stuff)
• Map your course assessments to the Learning Objectives
spreadsheet
• Submit syllabi and scoring rubrics for courses
Academic Equivalency 13

14. Iterate Until Approved
• INCOSE assessors will review the Academic Equivalency
materials a university submits.
• The assessors may ask for clarification in writing or on a phone
call.
• Once the equivalency is approved, and the MOA signed,
INCOSE will notify the university and issue a press release.
Academic Equivalency 14

15. Myths and Facts
• Myth: University must send INCOSE artifacts of assessments
• Fact: University indicates assessment type for learning objective (quiz,
paper, team project, exercise).
• Fact: INCOSE does not review quiz questions or sample papers.
• Myth: University must send INCOSE lecture content
• Fact: INCOSE only requires the syllabus. INCOSE is looking at the
topics covered to establish context for the assessments.
• Fact: INCOSE is only concerned with assessments and does not look
at lecture content.
Academic Equivalency 15

16. Myths and Facts
• Myth: University cannot use other textbooks
• Fact: INCOSE requires SE Handbook as a required textbook.
• Fact: University can use additional textbooks if desired.
• Myth: University instructors can only deliver INCOSE content
• Fact: University has flexibility in delivery. Instructors can add
information, use additional resources, create additional assessments.
• Fact: INCOSE is only concerned with assessments identified for
INCOSE learning objectives. Instructors must use those assessments.
Academic Equivalency 16

17. Myths and Facts
• Myth: University cannot change course once approved for AcEq
• Fact: University can change lectures, add assessments, and has flexibility
in delivery. INCOSE is only concerned with assessments identified for
INCOSE learning objectives
• Fact: University can change AcEq assessment if they notify INCOSE of the
change. INCOSE expects universities to regularly refresh their classes.
• Myth: AcEq is restricted to Systems Engineering students
• Fact: Any student that successfully completes the AcEq course(s) is
eligible for ASEP.
• Fact: INCOSE encourages students outside systems engineering to
pursue an ASEP certification to show that they can “speak SE”.
Academic Equivalency 17

18. Myths and Facts
• Myth: Competing universities will be able to see our content
• Fact: No proprietary information is collected or shared.
• Fact: Samples provided from universities are provided with permission
from those universities.
• Myth: INCOSE needs access to private student information
• Fact: University sends a list of names with INCOSE ID numbers that have
successfully completed class with 85% or better.
• Fact: INCOSE ID is generated when student accesses INCOSE for a free
download of the SE Handbook (part of Academic Council membership)
• Fact: University can arrange for students to self-select to have their
names submitted. INCOSE does not require the entire student roster.
Academic Equivalency 18

19. Myths and Facts
• Myth: Competing universities will be able to see our content
• Fact: No proprietary information is collected or shared.
• Fact: Samples provided from universities are provided with permission
from those universities.
• Myth: INCOSE needs access to private student information
• Fact: University sends a list of names with INCOSE ID numbers that have
successfully completed class with 85% or better.
• Fact: INCOSE ID is generated when student accesses INCOSE for a free
download of the SE Handbook (part of Academic Council membership)
• Fact: University can arrange for students to self-select to have their
names submitted. INCOSE does not require the entire student roster.
Academic Equivalency 19

20. EMEA Sector
AcEq courses can be delivered in languages other than English
We want to encourage EMEA universities to follow this path to
educate students about systems engineering practices
Academic Equivalency 20

21. Any Questions?
Academic Equivalency Coordinator:
bernardo.delicado@incose.net
Certification Office:
certification@incose.net
Web Page:
https://www.incose.org/systems-engineering-certification/university-
organizational-agreements
Academic Equivalency 21
For more information visit:
www.incose.org/certification