Many engineering degree programmes are accredited by professional engineering institutions (PEIs) under licence from the Engineering Council.  Accreditation provides a mark of assurance that the degree meets certain standards and will provide students with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). 

To help universities highlight the accredited status of their degrees to potential students, the Engineering Council has developed an accredited degree logo for use especially on their websites or in prospectuses. Where the logo is displayed with degree course details, students and their advisers know that this degree satisfies the first step to becoming professionally qualified. 

Five years after the launch of the flexible work-based MSc Professional Engineering, which provides a pathway to professional engineering registration, IET member Richard Green has not only become the first graduate of the scheme to gain Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, but is also one of the youngest to qualify. 

The MSc is part of the Engineering Gateways initiative launched by the Engineering Council, in collaboration with four universities and three professional engineering institutions.  Offering substantial benefits to individuals and their employers, the pathway enables engineers to pursue a degree programme and structure their MSc learning around the professional engineering tasks they undertake at work, without the disruption of time away from their company. 

Richard graduated earlier this year from Kingston University in London, one of the four higher education institutions initially involved in the programme.  As well as gaining the academic requirement for CEng registration through the MSc, Richard was also able to use work from this degree to underpin the development of some of the required competences.  Together with the competences he has acquired through work, he was quickly able to apply to the IET for his professional review interview for CEng. 

Richard said: “The combination of vocational and academic study has really contributed to my success, allowing me to apply theory to practice and vice versa.  This work-based model of education is very rewarding and provides skills and knowledge that are not easily delivered in the classroom.”

Richard’s route to CEng began with completion of an Advanced Apprenticeship, while studying part time for an ONC and two HNCs in engineering.  He then took two part time Bachelors degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business Management at Hull, achieving a first in each subject. 
 
Jon Prichard, CEO of the Engineering Council said: “We would like to congratulate Richard on achieving CEng status.  This is not only an important milestone in his career, but also in the development of the Engineering Gateways scheme.  In addition to his own hard work, Richard’s success has been made possible by the valuable contribution of all our partners in the development of the programme – employers, universities and professional engineering institutions.”

We announced in the last issue that the Engineering Council has been awarded a ‘practice transfer partnership’ by the National HE STEM Programme as part of its workforce development plan.

Work is now progressing to develop a toolkit for universities wishing to adopt the Engineering Gateways work-based framework and offer degrees at Bachelors and Masters level in Professional Engineering.   Five universities are participating in this partnership, that is being led by the Engineering Council with input from the Centre for Engineering and Design Education at Loughborough University.  The ‘adopter’ universities are: Coventry, Derby, Greenwich, Leeds Metropolitan and the University of the West of England. 

A new version of the Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (AHEP) brochure is now available, including a new section covering the output standards. 

HR Managers survey
In September 2011 an online survey was conducted to ascertain employers’ levels of awareness and attitudes towards professional registration, and in particular IEng registration. Although we had undertaken a lot of research throughout 2010 this exercise was designed to further raise awareness among employers, while gaining a deeper understanding of their needs.

The biggest challenge in carrying out this exercise was reaching relevant HR Managers/employers of engineers. Initially, an outside database was used to identify them, followed by a request to PEIs and other partner bodies to ask their employer contacts to complete the survey.  274 employers started the survey, and a total of 175 questionnaires were fully completed.

Key findings include:

• Awareness of professional qualifications among respondents was:
  - 73% EngTech,
  - 70% IEng 
  - 89% CEng
• Despite this, a large percentage of employers did not know if their engineering employees were registered with the EngC
• 87% were aware that engineers apply for professional registration through a relevant PEI
• The two main benefits of employing professionally qualified engineers are that it provides assurance that the employee has satisfied a rigorous assessment of their engineering competence and confirmation that the engineering credentials being claimed are genuine
• 141 respondents recognise IEng as a professional qualification
• CEng is currently more likely than IEng or EngTech to be encouraged/promoted within the workplace
• More respondents (95) consider IEng as part of a progressive structure (stepping stone to CEng) than a ‘stand-alone’ qualification (70)

Overall, more than 70% of employers agreed that EngC and the PEIs should increase the profile and demonstrate the wider benefits of professional registration, with 62% stating that more information about the value of professional registration should be provided specifically to employers.

Following a period of consultation with stakeholders and approval from the New Registers Advisory Group, The Science Council has launched standards for two new professional registers in science - Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) and Registered Scientist (RSci).  The registers were officially launched by David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, on 19 October in a lecture at the Royal Society of Medicine.

By introducing the new registers alongside the prestigious Chartered Scientist (CSci) award, the Science Council aims to build a framework of professional standards and recognition across the science workforce, similar to the EngTech, IEng and CEng professional qualifications offered by the Engineering Council for engineers.

The Royal Academy of Engineering recently launched an innovative guide, Engineering Ethics in Practice. The report uses a series of case studies to address a number of ethical issues faced by professional engineers, and aims to help them to identify, analyse and respond effectively to the challenges these issues raise.

Addressed to those holding professional engineering qualifications, the guide is designed to complement the Statement of Ethical Principles, previously issued by the Royal Academy and the Engineering Council.  The publication of both documents is part of the ongoing process of providing support to professional engineers in the development of their ethical skills.

The one-day launch event, held at the University of Leeds School of Mechanical Engineering, combined a plenary session given by ethicists and engineers working in industry and academia with interactive workshop sessions. Talks were given by Engineering Council Chairman Rear Admiral Nigel Guild CB FREng, Lambert Dopping-Hepenstal FREng, Professor W Richard Bowen FREng and Professor Jonathan Wolff.

It is hoped that the report will provide a valuable resource for professional development of all levels of engineers. 

As regular readers will know, the Engineering Council is an active member of Engineering the Future, a broad alliance of engineering institutions and bodies which represent the UK’s 450,000 professional engineers. The alliance works to provide independent expert advice and promote understanding of the contribution that engineering makes to the economy, society and to the development and delivery of national policy.

Engineers Without Borders UK (EWB UK) and Engineers Against Poverty (EAP) will be holding a global engineering education event in March, to explore how the global dimension is being incorporated into the teaching of undergraduates and showcase practical examples of highly innovative student projects.

On 19 December 2011, the European Commission published proposals for revisions to the Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC. Over the preceding months, the Engineering Council had participated in consultations with the UK Department of Business Innovation and Skills (DBIS) and, through FEANI, the European Commission. Negotiation on the proposals is expected to continue throughout 2012.

The majority of the proposed changes will have little impact for the UK engineering profession, or may provide some benefit by, for example, requiring competent authorities to provide a detailed explanation of any identified shortfall in an application for recognition.  However, the Engineering Council has sounded the alarm bells about a proposed re-wording in Article 11. This places professional qualifications at different levels, according solely to the duration of study of their academic qualification. The current wording places Incorporated Engineers at level (d) and Chartered Engineers at level (e). The proposed new wording would bring many Chartered Engineers into level (d).  Engineering Council, and some PEIs, have urged DBIS to object to adoption of the proposed re-wording.

In September 2010, the FEANI General Assembly agreed to develop a professional card for engineers, as an aid to mobility. Following publication of the process Handbook in September 2011, the German and Netherlands FEANI member organisations have now launched the card, with a number of other bodies planning to follow suit in 2012.

The Engineering Council was actively involved in developing the Handbook. However, in view of the proposals in the review of Directive 2005/36/EC, we have decided to defer making a decision on participation until it becomes clear how the EngineerING Card will fit with the Commission’s proposals and the extent to which it will offer real benefits to European engineers.

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) has announced the appointment of Kevin Wellman EngTech FCIPHE RP MCGI FCMI MIoD FInstLM as Chief Executive Officer.

Kevin began his plumbing career as an apprentice and worked as a Registered Plumber before joining the Institute’s staff in 1985 as Technical Officer. In this role he supported and developed a number of technical initiatives and activities including seminars, publications and technical enquiries. While Operations Director, Kevin was responsible for developing policy; formulation of direction and strategy; corporate social responsibility, negotiating and securing funding streams; line managing and developing staff.

In 2006 Kevin arranged the centenary conference and exhibition, which was the largest event in the Institute’s history, attracting visitors worldwide.  He has secured funding for a number of European projects that have seen the development of sustainable technologies and more recently a safety related product to aid the detection of asbestos fibres.

Kevin is an active participant in the WaterSafe Installer Scheme discussions, sits on the Technical Committee of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers and represents the Institute on numerous committees and working groups. Since 2001, he has worked as a business mentor for the Prince’s Trust to support young people establishing new companies. 

According to Engineering UK: the state of engineering 2012, launched in December at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, by the time today’s primary school pupils are of working age, the UK will need over two million additional engineers to meet demand.  Predicting a growth wave in engineering jobs the report is clear that these roles will move abroad if the UK skills base can’t meet the need.

The report shows that engineering is central to ensuring economic growth and plays a major role in helping to tackle global challenges, including climate change, health, food security, biodiversity, water security, population and energy security.  At home, the challenge for the engineering, manufacturing and science sectors is to develop and exploit emerging technologies, such as advanced manufacturing, manu-services, and low carbon and environmental goods and services.  But the UK can only achieve success in these fields if future graduates have skills rooted in maths and the sciences.

The Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers (IGEM) is committed to providing managers working in or alongside the gas sector with a range of interesting and informative workshops that support their continuous professional development and offer valuable networking opportunities.

With this in mind, IGEM is pleased to announce its first workshop for 2012 targeted specifically at HR and training managers, covering the pertinent topic of ‘Cultural Diversity’. IGEM would like extend the invitation out to any Engineering Institution staff who might benefit from attending such an event.

Taking place on Thursday 26 January at IGEM House in Derbyshire, this full day, interactive workshop entitled ‘Breaking Down the Barriers’ will provide all HR and training professionals with the opportunity to hear from a range of HR and diversity experts. 

The programme includes: the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) who will be offering an overview of best practice, Hays Recruitment who will be presenting their ‘Top 10 tips for Diversity & Talent Management and Orton Solicitors who will offer an update on the latest relevant legislation. We will also have speakers discussing transgender awareness, challenges facing organisational culture, the latest trends and statistics from the social attitudes survey and provide a thought-provoking drama performance. These sessions will be supported by diversity case studies.

Launched late last year, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering is a new global award which celebrates truly outstanding advances in engineering that have created significant benefit to humanity.  It will recognise and celebrate the best – and also serve to illuminate the sheer excitement of modern engineering. 

The £1 million prize will be awarded in the name of Her Majesty The Queen to an individual or team of up to three people, of any nationality, directly responsible for advancing the positive application of engineering knowledge.  It will be awarded biennially, the first being presented in Spring 2013.

The prize is the result of a growing realisation within political, business and engineering circles of the need for a pioneering initiative based in the UK to focus attention on engineering worldwide.  It has the strong support of both Government and Opposition leaders in the UK, demonstrated by all three party leaders speaking at the launch event. 

Generously supported by a range of top engineering companies, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering is warmly welcomed by the Engineering Council and the whole of the UK engineering community.

The WES Karen Burt Memorial Award is made annually to the most outstanding newly Chartered woman engineer.  The 2011 deserving winner was Dr Gemma Whatling CEng, Cardiff Academic Fellow for the Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre at Cardiff University, who was presented with her award at the WES Annual Conference in October.  Gemma is a Mechanical Engineer and was nominated by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Business group the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) is running a campaign to tempt more young people — especially young women — into careers as engineers, for the good of the UK economy.  The recent launch includes a Talent 2030 campaign website and publication of the Great Expectations report.

The report provides a set of recommendations for schools, universities, professional engineering bodies, funding and research councils, industry, business and government in order to help the UK realise its leadership potential within engineering and manufacturing. 

Teachers will be able to give students a better understanding of STEM career options and build stronger connections with business thanks to an innovative Masters level course, which was launched officially at the House of Lords.

The new course has been developed by the University of Wolverhampton, in partnership with the Institute for Education Business Excellence (IEBE) and The Royal Academy of Engineering.

Primarily aimed at teachers of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects, the course provides formal recognition of professional development placements, taken as part of The Royal Academy of Engineering’s hugely successful ‘STEPS at Work’ programme.  By helping teachers to maximise the benefit of their placements and the contribution businesses make to classroom teaching, they will be better placed to inspire their students to pursue STEM careers.

An initial pilot cohort of teachers has been recruited to study the course from January-March 2012, with the finalised course available from mid-2012.

Responding to soaring demand, a new pilot programme of teacher training courses which should help to redress the shortage of specialist physics teachers in schools across England is being adopted by 32 universities.

The new courses, which allow graduates to train to teach the combination of physics with mathematics, will be offered by some of the country’s most high profile universities, including Oxford and Warwick, with an aim to recruit 306 trainees for September 2012.

Physics with maths is a natural combination that appeals to many physics and engineering graduates who have the potential to become teachers in these key shortage subjects.  Historically, many of these graduates might have been deterred from training to teach physics by the prospect of having to learn to teach biology and chemistry as well –subjects with which they may have much less familiarity.

News of the courses followed the announcement of the record-breaking number of physics specialist trainees – 864 – recruited for courses that started in September 2011, and means that universities will be aiming to recruit 1,150 physics trainees in total next year. 

The IOP has calculated that, in England, in order to ensure that every student is taught physics by a suitably qualified and enthusiastic teacher, 1,000 new physics teachers are needed every year for more than a decade to overcome the historical shortage.

I’m an Engineer, Get me out of Here! is an X Factor-style competition for engineers, where students are the judges, taking place from 12 - 23 March.

The event is designed to bring engineering to life for students, by getting teenagers talking to real engineers online, hence learning about engineering. Students should have fun, but also get beyond stereotypes, while learning about the wide range of opportunities in engineering and how these relate to real life.

The organisers, Gallomanor Communications, are currently looking for engineers to participate in this event, from different areas of engineering.