We present the lessons learnt in the process of adopting the ConceiveDesign-Implement-Operate (CDIO) approach for the curricular reform of the Computer Science program at the School of Engineering of the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Chile. These lessons were gathered through a participatory and iterative process involving members of the Computer Science program’s curricular committee in charge of the CDIO implementation and self-evaluation processes, and members of the program’s national accreditation self-evaluation committee. They are presented in response to the following questions: what actions effectively aid standards implementation, and what factors must be considered in order to successfully implement CDIO. We share them in the hope of aiding other institutions that are evaluating the adoption of the CDIO approach.