Five years after the launch of a 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, including the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).  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 Professional Engineering, 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.  Richard currently works for Eggborough Power Ltd as an Engineer, specialising in life extension projects, in particular emissions reduction and renewable power.  

Paul Cook, Engineering Director from Eggborough Power Ltd said:  “We are proud of Richard’s achievement and are fully supportive of this programme.  Richard is the first of four employees on the scheme to have graduated and achieved CEng.   For us, having staff with Chartered status is important because this demonstrates the industry gold standard to our clients and denotes a high level of knowledge and experience.  For the individuals, too, being a CEng means that their professional competence is recognised, which greatly adds to their employability in the workforce.”

Mike Hope, leader of work-based learning at Kingston University’s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing, said: “Richard is an excellent example of how this approach can enable engineers to achieve an MSc and then CEng, whilst still working full time. It covers both academic and professional aspects, and included input to Richard from Stephen Jones of Sellafield Ltd, one of the university’s team of industry based consultants.”

Michelle Richmond, the IET Director of Membership and Professional Development said: “We are delighted that an exceptional young IET member has become the first Chartered Engineer through this route.  Richard is an outstanding engineer, who demonstrates what can be achieved when a committed individual is offered the right opportunities.”
 
Jon Prichard, CEO of the Engineering Council said: “We would like to congratulate Richard on achieving CEng status.  This is an important milestone 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.”

The MSc Professional Engineering is proving attractive to many engineers who might otherwise not have the opportunity to achieve professional status.  More than 70 individuals in a range of companies are now enrolled on the MSc Professional Engineering programmes at five higher education institutions, with numbers set to grow. 14 professional engineering institutions have now signed up to support these programmes. Further details are available at:  /education--skills/engineering-gateways