Benchmarking CO-AIMS with Peer OBE Systems: A Comparative Study of Academic Information Management Tools

The growing adoption of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) in higher education has intensified the need for academic information systems that would be able to monitor Program Outcomes (POs) effectively, enable Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), and assist with transparent evidence for accreditation. While institutions have developed or availed digital tools in majority, their responsiveness and effectiveness are still largely disparate. This study contrasts the College of Engineering Academic Information Management System (CO-

Aims

developed at UiTM Pasir Gudang with similar peer OBE-support systems like eOutcomes at Taylor's University, the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia OBE system, SmartOBE, and the OBE-Support platform at Universitas Indonesia. Taking a comparative methodology with six evaluation criteria—functionality, data analytics, user experience, CO-PO mapping efficiency, CQI integration, and scalability—this study draws conclusions based on system documentation, literature data, and academic staff feedback. Its findings show that CO-

Aims

presents strong points in usability, PO attainment tracking, and academic advisory support through reduced dashboards and easy reporting options that reduce lecturer workload. However, gaps also emerged in terms of interoperability with Learning Management Systems (LMS), scalability beyond one department, and the absence of AI-driven predictive analytics characteristic of newer systems. By systematic comparison of CO-

Aims

with peer systems, this study contributes a benchmarking structure finding both strengths and limitations to generate actionable recommendations for system improvement and institutional planning. The results underscore the importance of continued progress to ensure OBE-friendly systems remain flexible to address evolving accreditation standards and the digital revolution in tertiary education.