The 11 Program Outcomes (POs) of NBA — GAPC v4.0 Explained
· By Edhitch Research Team
NBA defines 11 Program Outcomes (POs) for undergraduate engineering programmes under the GAPC v4.0 framework (Revised NBA SAR 2025). The 11 POs are: PO1 Engineering Knowledge, PO2 Problem Analysis, PO3 Design/Development of Solutions, PO4 Conduct Investigations of Complex Problems, PO5 Engineering Tool Usage, PO6 The Engineer and the World, PO7 Ethics, PO8 Individual and Collaborative Team Work, PO9 Communication, PO10 Project Management and Finance, and PO11 Life-Long Learning. This replaced the earlier 12-PO framework.
What are NBA Program Outcomes?
Program Outcomes (POs) are the graduate attributes that every student of an NBA-accredited engineering programme is expected to demonstrate by the time of graduation. They describe the knowledge, skills, and attitudes a graduating engineer should possess.
POs are defined by NBA — individual programmes do not write their own. They are standardised and common across all engineering programmes, which is what allows NBA accreditation to be benchmarked internationally. POs are aligned with the Washington Accord, the international agreement that recognises substantial equivalence of engineering qualifications across signatory countries.
Within NBA's outcome-based education model, POs sit between two other layers: Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) describe career accomplishments 3–5 years after graduation, and Course Outcomes (COs) describe what a student achieves in a single course. POs are the bridge — course-level learning maps up to POs, and POs roll up toward PEOs.
The 11 Program Outcomes, defined
Here are the 11 NBA Program Outcomes under GAPC v4.0, each with its official short title and what it requires of a graduating engineer.
Engineering Knowledge
Apply the knowledge of mathematics, natural science, computing, and engineering fundamentals and an engineering specialisation to the solution of complex engineering problems.
Problem Analysis
Identify, formulate, and analyse complex engineering problems, reaching substantiated conclusions with consideration for the holistic nature of the problem.
Design/Development of Solutions
Design creative solutions for complex engineering problems and design systems, components, or processes to meet identified needs — with consideration for public health and safety, and cultural, societal, and environmental factors. Sustainability is now intrinsic to design.
Conduct Investigations of Complex Problems
Conduct investigations of complex engineering problems using research-based knowledge and research methods, including design of experiments, analysis and interpretation of data, and synthesis of information to provide valid conclusions.
Engineering Tool Usage
Create, select, and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering and IT tools, including prediction and modelling — recognising their limitations — to solve complex engineering problems. (Previously titled "Modern Tool Usage.")
The Engineer and the World
Analyse and evaluate societal and environmental aspects while solving complex engineering problems, considering their impact on sustainability with reference to economy, health, safety, legal frameworks, culture, and the environment. This PO merges the old PO6 (Society) and old PO7 (Environment and Sustainability) into one.
Ethics
Apply ethical principles and commit to professional ethics, human values, diversity, and inclusion; and adhere to relevant national and international laws. (Diversity and inclusion are now explicit additions.)
Individual and Collaborative Team Work
Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader in diverse and multi-disciplinary teams.
Communication
Communicate effectively and inclusively within the engineering community and with society at large — comprehending and writing effective reports and design documentation, and making effective presentations — considering cultural, language, and learning differences.
Project Management and Finance
Apply knowledge and understanding of engineering management principles and economic decision-making, and apply these to one's own work, as a member and leader in a team, to manage projects in multi-disciplinary environments.
Life-Long Learning
Recognise the need for, and have the preparation and ability for, independent and life-long learning, adaptability to new and emerging technologies, and critical thinking in the broadest context of technological change.
Source: NBA Graduate Attributes and Professional Competencies (GAPC) v4.0, aligned to the Washington Accord 2021 Review. PO titles and definitions reflect the Revised NBA SAR 2025. Definitions are summarised; refer to the official NBA SAR for exact statutory wording.
Why NBA changed from 12 POs to 11
For over a decade, NBA used 12 Program Outcomes under GAPC Version 3. Many engineering institutions, faculty, and students still know that 12-PO list. So why are there now 11?
The change came with GAPC v4.0, NBA's alignment with the Washington Accord 2021 Review. The Washington Accord periodically updates its graduate-attribute framework, and signatory countries — including India, through NBA — are expected to implement the revised version.
The single structural change that reduced the count: the old PO6 ("The Engineer and Society") and old PO7 ("Environment and Sustainability") were merged into one new PO6, "The Engineer and the World." The reasoning is that society, economy, environment, and sustainability are not separate concerns — a competent engineer evaluates them together. Treating them as one integrated outcome reflects how real engineering decisions are made.
After that merge, the remaining outcomes simply shifted up by one: old PO8 through PO12 became new PO7 through PO11. So the change is not a wholesale rewrite — it is one merge plus a renumbering, with several definitions sharpened (notably sustainability woven into Design, and diversity and inclusion added to Ethics).
Preparing a SAR under the new 11-PO framework? The PO transition affects how CO-PO attainment must be presented. See our NBA Accreditation Manuals 2025 guide covering the Revised SAR for Tier-I and Tier-II.
Old 12 vs new 11: the mapping
This table shows how each of the old 12 POs maps to the new 11. It is the quickest way to see exactly what changed.
| Old PO (GAPC v3) | New PO (GAPC v4.0) | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| PO1 Engineering Knowledge | PO1 Engineering Knowledge | No change |
| PO2 Problem Analysis | PO2 Problem Analysis | No change |
| PO3 Design/Development of Solutions | PO3 Design/Development of Solutions | Expanded — sustainability now intrinsic |
| PO4 Conduct Investigations | PO4 Conduct Investigations | No change |
| PO5 Modern Tool Usage | PO5 Engineering Tool Usage | Renamed and broadened in scope |
| PO6 The Engineer and Society | PO6 The Engineer and the World | Merged with old PO7 |
| PO7 Environment and Sustainability | PO6 The Engineer and the World | Merged into PO6 — this is the removed slot |
| PO8 Ethics | PO7 Ethics | Shifted up; diversity & inclusion added |
| PO9 Individual and Team Work | PO8 Individual & Collaborative Team Work | Shifted up |
| PO10 Communication | PO9 Communication | Shifted up |
| PO11 Project Management & Finance | PO10 Project Management & Finance | Shifted up |
| PO12 Life-Long Learning | PO11 Life-Long Learning | Shifted up |
Source: NBA PO transition under Revised SAR 2025 / GAPC v4.0. The practical rule institutions follow: PO1–PO5 carry over directly; old PO6 and PO7 combine into new PO6; old PO8–PO12 become new PO7–PO11.
POs vs PSOs vs COs
Program Outcomes are often confused with two related terms. Here is the distinction:
- POs (Program Outcomes) — the 11 standardised graduate attributes defined by NBA. Common to all engineering programmes. A programme demonstrates attainment of them; it does not write them.
- PSOs (Programme Specific Outcomes) — outcomes written by each individual programme to describe what is specific to that discipline, such as Computer Science or Civil Engineering. A programme typically defines 2 to 4 PSOs unique to its specialisation.
- COs (Course Outcomes) — what a student achieves in a single course. Each course defines its own COs, written with action verbs from Bloom's Taxonomy. COs are mapped to POs and PSOs.
A common mistake: copying generic PSOs from a premier institution instead of writing PSOs that reflect a programme's actual strengths. PSOs must be genuinely programme-specific.
How PO attainment is shown
Defining the 11 POs is only the start. NBA accreditation requires institutions to demonstrate attainment — to prove with data that students actually achieve the outcomes.
This works through the CO-PO mapping chain: each Course Outcome is mapped to the POs it contributes to, with a correlation strength (typically 1, 2, or 3). Course Outcome attainment is then computed from direct assessment (tests, labs, projects) and indirect assessment (surveys), and these values roll up — weighted by mapping strength — into PO attainment.
For institutions moving from 12 POs to 11, NBA's guidance indicates older batches' course outcomes do not need to be re-mapped, but PO attainment must be presented using the new 11-PO structure. PO1–PO5 carry over directly; where a CO was mapped to both old PO6 and PO7, those values combine into new PO6; old PO8–PO12 attainment carries over to new PO7–PO11.
Computing CO-PO attainment for the 11-PO framework? Edhitch's CO-PO attainment engine handles the mapping, the 12-to-11 transition, and SAR-ready PO attainment reports. See the CO-PO Attainment & Mapping Software, or get the per-faculty edition via CO-PO Pro.
Frequently asked questions
How many Program Outcomes does NBA have?
Under GAPC v4.0 (Revised NBA SAR 2025), NBA defines 11 Program Outcomes for undergraduate engineering programmes. This replaced the earlier 12-PO framework used under GAPC Version 3. The reduction happened because old PO6 and old PO7 were merged into a single new PO6.
What are the 11 Program Outcomes of NBA?
They are: PO1 Engineering Knowledge, PO2 Problem Analysis, PO3 Design/Development of Solutions, PO4 Conduct Investigations of Complex Problems, PO5 Engineering Tool Usage, PO6 The Engineer and the World, PO7 Ethics, PO8 Individual and Collaborative Team Work, PO9 Communication, PO10 Project Management and Finance, and PO11 Life-Long Learning.
Why did NBA reduce POs from 12 to 11?
To align with the Washington Accord 2021 Review, implemented through GAPC v4.0. The old PO6 (The Engineer and Society) and old PO7 (Environment and Sustainability) were merged into a single new PO6, The Engineer and the World. Old PO8 to PO12 then shifted down to new PO7 to PO11.
When did the 11 PO framework become mandatory?
The GAPC v4.0 framework with 11 POs is mandatory for Tier-I (autonomous) engineering programmes from January 1, 2025, and for Tier-II (affiliated) programmes from January 2025, with a transition window that allowed the previous SAR format until June 2025.
What is the difference between POs and PSOs in NBA?
POs are the 11 standardised graduate attributes defined by NBA, common to all engineering programmes. PSOs are written by each programme to describe discipline-specific outcomes; a programme typically defines 2 to 4 PSOs unique to its specialisation, in addition to attaining the 11 NBA POs.
Do institutions need to remap old course outcomes for the 11 PO framework?
NBA's guidance indicates course outcomes for older batches do not need re-mapping, but PO attainment must be presented in the new 11-PO structure. PO1 to PO5 carry over directly; where a CO mapped to both old PO6 and PO7, the values combine into new PO6; old PO8 to PO12 attainment carries over to new PO7 to PO11.
Official sources
- National Board of Accreditation (NBA) — Official Portal
- NBA Revised SAR formats & GAPC v4.0 documents
PO titles and definitions are summarised from NBA's GAPC v4.0 framework. For exact statutory wording, refer to the official NBA SAR documents. Last reviewed: May 18, 2026.