Casting the net wider

Lord Sainsbury, the Minister for Science and Technology, has stated that professional registration could play a major role in the development of a skilled technician workforce, which is a key part of the Government’s skills strategy. ECUK is of the same opinion and as such has been studying the feasibility of broadening its Engineering Technician Register to include other categories of technician.

Widening the register could help to raise skill levels and encourage life-long learning among the numerous individuals who, though they are engaged in technical work, do not see themselves as engineers – such as those employed in the telecommunications sector. Alternatively, separate registers could be established for different groups of technician, though the basis for registration would have to be comparable across all of them. This might involve other registration authorities such as the Science Council.

When ECUK’s licensed institutions were recently asked for their views on the principle of extending the EngTech Register, the idea received a cautious welcome. It was pointed out however that the institutions would have to be able to provide services that were relevant to the interests and professional development needs of the new recruits. What was also made clear was that success would depend on a concerted approach by all interested parties.

It is intended that a fully developed model will be presented to the ECUK board at its meeting in December.

Planning ahead

Set up in 2002 as the UK regulatory authority for professional engineers and engineering technicians, ECUK is now looking to build on its early achievements and further develop the scope of its activities. This is immediately apparent from the wide range of actions and objectives that are listed in its 2006-08 Strategic Plan, which received board approval earlier this month.

After its formation, ECUK focussed on creating a widely-accepted standard for the registration of engineers and technicians, together with fair and common-sense procedures for licensing engineering institutions and accrediting academic programmes. These aims were essentially fulfilled with the publication of UK-SPEC, the United Kingdom Standard for Professional Engineering Competence.

Since then ECUK has been able to devote more of its resources to important areas such as assisting stakeholder institutions and developing international recognition – both of which figure prominently in the current, three year plan. Other priorities include developing accreditation of employer training programmes and supporting the development of EngTech registration. Maintaining registration standards, and ensuring they continue to be relevant and functional, will of course remain central to the organisation’s mission.

Aspirations for the future are summed up as follows: “ECUK will provide a clear means to ensure that employers, clients, government and society, nationally and internationally, can have confidence in the skills and commitment of ECUK - registered engineers, technologists and technicians.”

Banks put their trust in engineers

Professional engineers will be delighted to hear that the UK financial services industry no longer appears to regard them as untrustworthy. Until recently they were not among those that the banking community would accept as certifiers of documentary evidence of customer identity – as might be required say to open a bank account or take out a loan. It is thanks to the efforts of the ECUK that they now are.

Last year, ECUK was one of various organisations that were invited to comment on proposed new guidance published by the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG). Part of the guidance is concerned with mitigating the risk of impersonation when business is not carried out face-to-face. Within this section reference is made to copy documents, submitted as proof of identity, being certified by an ‘appropriate person’. However, in the circulated draft there was no explanation as to who should be deemed ‘appropriate’. ECUK pressed for a definition of this term – and, most importantly, one that would include engineers.

Clarification was duly incorporated in the final version of the JMLSG guidance document, which gained Treasury approval earlier this year. While this does not actually give a definitive list of appropriate persons it does reference the UK Passport Service list of acceptable counter-signatories for passport applications, which has long included engineers with professional qualifications.

The financial services sector was allowed a six-month transitional period in which to bring in the range of changes introduced by the guidance, which means that all firms should now be implementing them. This will hopefully bring to an end the banking world’s puzzling refusal to recognise the probity and status of the registered engineer.

The JMLSG guidance notes can be found at:
http://www.jmlsg.org.uk
The Passport Office list is at:
www.ukpa.gov.uk/passport_countersign.asp.

Making the Engineering Diploma succeed

A detailed specification has been published for the Engineering Diploma, which as reported in the last issue of Register News (no 32) will be in the vanguard of one of the biggest changes to 14+ education since the introduction of the National Curriculum. However, there are still key issues that need to be addressed regarding content and delivery if the diploma is to be assured of the success that ECUK hopes it will achieve.

The new award is one of five skills-specific Specialised Diplomas due to be launched in 2008. By 2013 the number will have increased to 14 – all available at three levels (1 and 2 will take up about half of curriculum time and level 3 will be full-time). The government’s aim is for 40% of 14-16yr olds to be diploma learners. In addition to the Engineering Diploma, another half dozen will be relevant to engineering; these include Construction & the Built Environment, ICT and Creative & Media.

The success of Specialised Diplomas will depend on a number of factors, not least of which will be their ability to offer high-quality active learning to all types of student – not just those considered ‘unacademic’ – and their acceptability as university entry qualifications. For delivery to be effective, strong partnerships will have to be forged between schools, further education and employers, and there will also be a need for considerable investment, particularly in teacher training.

With regard to the Engineering Diploma, ECUK is keen that there should be an emphasis on active learning through design work, etc, as well as wishing to see the maths and science content integrated with the engineering (through the diploma’s project element). It is also concerned to ensure that there is enough maths and science in the advanced award (level 3) to enable HE entry. As it stands, the diploma specification does not fully satisfy these requirements and places too great an emphasis on content and some rather uninspiring aspects of engineering. However, there has already been some improvement during the course of its development – a process in which ECUK has been actively involved – and it is hoped that this will continue.

But time is short. Selection of providers for the initial wave of diplomas is now closed to bidders and the first students will start choosing their diploma options late next year.

The full specification for the Engineering Diploma is at:
http://www.engineeringdiploma.com/public/downloads/EDDPSpecification18July06v29FINALSTAGE1.pdf

Annex:
http://www.engineeringdiploma.com/public/downloads/EDDPSpecification18JULY06V29Annex4FINALSTAGE1.pdf

Specifications for all of the first five Specialised Diplomas can be located from:
http://www.qca.org.uk/17049.html

Welcome outcome

Following an extensive review and consultation process, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has finally published its revised benchmark statement for engineering degrees. Importantly, the new document answers the academic community’s demands for a closer alignment of standards.

The revised benchmark covers both BEng Hons and MEng degrees and defines the academic standards expected of graduates of these programmes. It does this using the learning outcomes from ‘UK-SPEC: The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’, which was first published by ECUK in 2004. As a consequence there is now only one set of output standards for course providers to follow.

It is important to note however that using the benchmark as a reference point in programme design does not in itself guarantee accreditation under UK-SPEC.

The outcomes specified in UK-SPEC were themselves developed from the first edition of QAA’s engineering benchmark statement published in 2000, and from the Engineering Professors’ Council’s ‘Graduate Output Standard’, which came out later in the same year.

Copies of the revised benchmark statement can be found on the QAA website at:
www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/statements/Engineering06.pdf.
Printed copies are available from Linney Direct, Adamsway, Mansfield NG18 4FN.
Email: qaa@linneydirect.com

Marking FEANI’s card

EngCard, the proposed European card for professional engineers, will be the main topic of discussion at the FEANI National Assembly being held this month (27th-29th) in Prague. For the UK’s representatives, the event will be an opportunity to express their concerns over aspects of the card’s development.

The purpose of EngCard, as originally envisaged, was to provide a validated record of attainment. However, there are signs that the FEANI working group responsible for its development may now see it as something more, namely, a guarantee of professional competence. But this it cannot be, as no minimum standard has been set. In any case, FEANI’s EUR ING award and the European Professional Engineer Register on which its holders appear already fulfil this function.

In addition, circulated samples of the card have no space for recording national professional titles and/or registration (eg, CEng, IEng or EngTech), which is clearly a major omission. And more thought also needs to be given to how many applications for cards can be handled. A figure of 100,000 a year has been mentioned, but this has been widely dismissed as logistically impossible. Another question that needs addressing is how – or indeed if – applicants who are not members of national organisations are to be processed.

Clearly there are a number of issues that need to be looked at again if EngCard is to become a practical tool for facilitating engineer mobility. ECUK will be among those pressing to see that they are.

Well developed

The online Monitored Professional Development Scheme (e:MPDS) developed by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers has aided many of the organisation’s members in their quest for registration as Chartered or Incorporated Engineers. Now a number of ECUK’s other licensed institutions are considering whether they too should adopt the system, which provides a convenient and structured approach to monitoring would-be registrants’ initial professional development (IPD). Next month IMechE will begin a trial to test the system’s use for continuing professional development (CPD).

The e:MPDS platform allows an individual’s IPD to be electronically recorded and monitored. Over a period, aspiring registrants enter details of their progress as evidence that they are gaining the competences specified in UK-SPEC. Mentors can readily access this information to check that the requirements are being met. The record builds up until all the competences necessary for registration have been acquired.

The system, which has now been in use for 18 months, has shown it can improve both the quality and consistency of IPD.

Remote control

All applicants for CEng and IEng registration must undergo a professional review interview (PRI) and this is almost always conducted face-to-face. However, ECUK’s licensed institutions are under mounting pressure to make greater use of remote PRIs, which have hitherto been regarded as very much a last resort. It has therefore been decided to review policy in this area at next month’s meeting of the ECUK Quality Assurance Committee (QAC).

Remote PRIs only really became a practical proposition with the advent of video-conferencing, which can now be done very cost-effectively over the internet. Since the interviewers and the candidate should not have to meet in person, there are time and cost savings for the institution and/or the applicant. These will generally be greatest in the case of overseas applicants, though they may also be significant within the UK (in situations where long-distance travel is avoided).

The credibility of remote interviews does of course rely on there being proper controls. For instance, it is already a requirement for there to be somebody with the applicant during the entire course of the interview, and that somebody must be familiar with the registration process. This could be either a registrant or a person appointed by ECUK.

QAC will be looking closely at the issue of controls in relation to remote PRIs and would welcome the views of anyone with an involvement or interest in this area. Please address these to QA Manager, Adrian Bodimeade at abodimeade@engc.org.uk by 18th October.

More on mentoring

Mentoring can be of considerable benefit to those seeking professional registration. Indeed, many applicants would not have succeeded without it. It can help at every stage of the process, and is very strongly recommended for candidates who lack the right academic qualifications and are thus taking the ‘technical report’ option.

Last year ECUK ran a number of seminars on the subject in order to help institution staff and members who are responsible for mentor training. Such was the success of these events that a further two were held this summer. Attended by 66 people from 27 institutions, they too have generated much positive feedback. Their main value has been to facilitate the sharing of good practice.

ECUK intends to organise more seminars on mentoring next year and is also planning one on interviewing.

Manager, Volunteer Activities, ECUK (London-based, up to £35K pa + benefits)

ECUK licenses 35 engineering institutions to assess suitably qualified members for inclusion on the national register of professional engineers and technicians.

The successful applicant will be responsible for recruitment, training and support of the volunteers from the licensed engineering institutions who are involved in the assessment of licence applications and registration processes. He or she will resolve issues, agree actions, clarify processes and identify problems and improvement opportunities.

The post would suit a registrant with significant engineering management experience.

Applications must be received by 13 October. An application form and a job description can be downloaded from: http://www.engc.org.uk/recruitment/

General Information

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Register News is intended for everyone interested in the requirements for registration with the Engineering Council UK as a professional engineer or technician. In particular it is intended to alert readers to changes to regulations and to new developments or initiatives that have a bearing on registration status or the means to gain registration.

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