Despite being the professional level at which many practising engineers work (and a 10% increase in new registrations last year), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) is currently the most under-populated section of our register. 

A typical IEng might be a competent engineer working in middle-management, responsible for a team or project, and probably involved in the application of technology in activities such as design, implementation, operation and maintenance.  We estimate that tens of thousands of practising engineers could have the relevant standards of knowledge and competence to be eligible for IEng, but many are possibly unaware of this. 

So how has IEng become the best kept secret of the profession?  After all, the post nominals carry similar status to CEng.  Those already registered, as well as their employers, hold it in high regard knowing that it is an internationally recognised qualification, proving their level of knowledge and competence as well as providing enhanced career prospects.

To address this question, the Engineering Council has set up a marketing group to look into ways of promoting awareness of IEng throughout the profession.  The group consists of IEng registrants, representatives from professional engineering institutions and Engineering Council staff.  It will be kicking off its work through a short survey of IEngs and their employers, to find out how they view the qualification and the process they went through to obtain it.

Effective 21st January 2010, the Institute of the Motor Industry's (IMI) licence, covering EngTech and IEng, has been revoked by mutual agreement.  Existing IMI registrants have all been individually informed and, to ensure that they remain on the Engineering Council register, have 12 months to transfer their registration to another licensed professional engineering institution.

The popularity of the Engineering Council's workshop programme continues to grow.  17 events are currently scheduled for 2010, including seven marketing related subjects. Amongst the other ten workshops, there are two new titles - Moderation and Licensing to ensure Continuous Performance Improvement.

The first of the two new workshops has been introduced as a result of our continuing efforts to improve consistency and transparency of registration across the licensed institutions. Institutions will normally have established processes for internal Moderation, but there is an increased need for everyone (institutions and external stakeholders) to have greater confidence in standards across institutions, and it is in this area where the process of Moderation needs to be developed further.

The second new title is a continuation of last year's New Approach to Licensing workshop. The focus this time is Continuous Performance Improvement (CPI). The CPI index indicates in general terms the status of an institution with regard to the licensing requirements. Made up of ten requirements, each assessed at three levels, this CPI Index will provide the Engineering Council with a view across all licensed institutions, thus enabling them to highlight trends, and areas of good practice or concern.

All those involved in the introduction of the work-based MSc Professional Engineering degree programme - students, employers, universities, professional engineering institutions and the Engineering Council - have been surveyed by an independent consultant for their views about progress so far, and how far the original aims and objectives of the initiative are being met.

Analysis of the results is almost complete and a full report will be uploaded to our website in the next few weeks. Initial findings reveal a good level of satisfaction amongst those on the programme, strong commitment from the institutions involved and examples of where employees are already making a difference to their company through their planned MSc work.  We're pleased to report that all stakeholders are committed to continuing to support and promote the programme.

We're pleased to announce that, as a result of Singapore joining the Washington Accord, all graduates with accredited UK degrees which come under the Washington Accord will now be recognised in Singapore.

The Engineering Council is holding its third 'professional mobility and international recognition of qualifications' seminar on 24 May at the Institution of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST). 

These seminars provide an ideal opportunity to update Professional Engineering Institutions and other interested parties on key international issues concerning recognition of UK engineers and their qualifications. 

An impressive line up of speakers from around the globe includes the Chairman of the European Commission Internal Market & Consumer Affairs committee, Malcolm Harbour MEP, who will be giving this year's keynote address.

Career prospects for engineers in the water industry are being boosted by an offer of free professional registration to CEng, IEng or EngTech status.  This generous incentive is provided by the Institute of Water, which is waiving its usual £164.50 professional registration fee for applications received before 30 June.

"Becoming registered is an increasingly important career move for engineers," said the Institute of Water's chief executive, Lynn Cooper.  "The Institute of Water is dedicated to supporting the careers of people working at all levels across the industry and has made this offer in recognition of the challenges many engineers face given the current economic climate."

Michael Fowle, the Institute of Water's vice president engineering added: "In today's business environment the achievement of engineering registration makes sense for both employers and employees.  For the individual, recognition of achievements is particularly satisfying and in a market where many jobs are at risk, registration makes an individual more employable and again can be a differentiator.

"I have been a Chartered Engineer for 34 years and was one of the first to transfer my registration to the Institute of Water.

"Water engineering is an essential part of tackling climate change and thus the need for water engineers is as great as ever. The registration service provided by the Institute of Water is of great benefit to the industry."

An abstract for a paper about the evaluation of the Engineering Gateways pathway has been accepted for the Engineering Education 2010 Conference at Aston University in July.

This international conference aims to provide a platform to consider how we can inspire the next generation of engineers, from attracting more young people to consider the profession through to engaging students in universities and the workplace.  The conference is dedicated to enhancing the quality of higher education in all engineering disciplines and will serve as a forum for the sharing of innovation and effective practice. It will provide delegates with the opportunity to critically and creatively engage with new ideas and research that might support the development of activities and approaches in the future.

At the end of January the Athena Forum launched its Bookmark Project to support post-doctoral researchers, in particular women, in their career decision making.   Joining Athena in this simple and low-cost initiative, the first project partners are the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Universities of Cambridge and Loughborough.

The project's key message, promoted through 'bookmarks' adapted to the individual organisations taking part is 'As a post-Doc you are the future of UK engineering .... but are you in control of your future in engineering?'

Entries are currently being invited for the Ford WISE Prize, a once yearly female student prize, awarded by Ford in conjunction with WISE and the IMechE.

The award recognises the outstanding commitment and achievement by female undergraduates in all disciplines of engineering.  It has been introduced to encourage and promote the potential of engineering careers to women.  The winner will receive a cheque for £1,000. Closing date for applications is Monday, May 24th, 2010.

The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists' and Engineers' Fair kicks off National Science and Engineering Week and is being held at Manchester Central Convention Complex, from 11-13 March 2010.  The Big Bang celebrates and raises the profile of young people's achievement in science and engineering.  It also aims to encourage more young people to take part in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) initiatives with support from their parents and teachers. Almost 20,000 students, families, teachers and lecturers have registered to attend the Fair, which will include almost 200 student projects showcasing innovation and creativity competing in the National Science & Engineering Competition for national and international awards. And this year the event will also be open on Saturday 13 March to families with children aged 9-19.

National Science and Engineering Week (12 - 21 March) is a 10-day long celebration of science, engineering and technology that sees people of all ages taking part in, and organising, a vast array of events across the country. In 2009, over 1.4 million people took part in 3,500 events throughout the UK.

Coordinated by the British Science Association, in partnership with EngineeringUK, with funding from BIS (the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills), National Science and Engineering Week aims to inspire and engage people from all walks of life directly with science, engineering and technology.

The Engineering Council welcomes Sir James Dyson's report on UK engineering and technology, commissioned by the Conservative Party, which looks at how to make the UK the leading high tech exporter in Europe.  We are pleased to see that the problem of raising the profile of science, design & technology and engineering in the UK is addressed. Dyson also recommends "Promoting technical qualifications and apprenticeships as a route to better jobs and degrees."

In particular, we welcome the report's proposal to make "Changes in the way we exploit new knowledge, so that the UK becomes world-class in taking the best new ideas out of universities and onto the market. Proposals include more focused funding for knowledge transfer in universities and new ways of promoting collaboration through public-private research institutes."

Headline figures from UCAS show another record year for applicants to higher education - the fourth year running that full-time undergraduate applications have seen an increase. And once again applications for engineering subjects have risen significantly.

Concurring with the rise in applications for registration experienced by the Engineering Council over the past year, UCAS believes that the current economic situation is causing people to apply to higher education as a way of re-training, to ready themselves for the job market once the economy picks up.

Applications for engineering programmes overall have risen an average of 16.15%, with aerospace and general engineering subjects both seeing a 22.60% rise in those applying. Mechanical engineering remains the most popular course with almost double the amount of applications received by others.  Its applications have risen by close to 20%, a similar figure to that in 2009.

Confirming that the long period of decline is over, the increase in applications for electronic and electrical engineering courses continues to build on last year's growth, rising by another 16.30% over the past year.  As in previous years, chemical, process and energy engineering continues to increase steadily, with an 8.00% increase on last year.

Manager of Volunteer Activities

Due to an internal promotion the Engineering Council is currently looking for a new Manager of Volunteer Activities. This interesting and varied role involves recruiting, training, allocating and supporting around 80 volunteers who act as Liaison Officers for our 36 licensed professional engineering institutions.