In Place of Strife

The recent election of new members to the Executive Board of FEANI - the European Federation of National Engineering Associations - provided some good news for the UK engineering profession. Our own Jim Birch, ECUK 's Head of International Recognition, was one of five new faces to join the ten-man Board. Moreover, he attracted 76 out of a possible 96 votes, just one fewer than Dane, Lars Olsen who topped the poll. As well as being a testimony to Jim's impressive credentials, the result also reflects a general disquiet over the failure of some national members to support agreed FEANI policies.

FEANI brings together engineering associations from 25 European countries and can claim to represent the interests of some 2million professional engineers. Its principle role is to facilitate the mutual recognition of engineering qualifications. Each nation has a seat on its General Assembly, which approves policy and elects the Executive Board. The latter is responsible for managing the organisation and putting its policies into practice

The UK 's previous representative on the Board was Ernest Shannon, CBE, and Jim Birch will be looking to continue the good work that he started. Significantly, Jim's election 'manifesto' contained a strong commitment to collective responsibility, a lack of which has sometimes reduced FEANI's effectiveness. "Once a decision is made it must be unanimously supported, even by those who voted against it. Those who ignore or undermine agreed policies simply to win some perceived short-term advantage, make a mockery of FEANI's goals and ideals. All they really succeed in doing is to weaken the organisation and thereby damage the prospects of those individuals we are supposed to represent."

Jim also believes that FEANI needs to be less insular and look more at the wider global picture, "It is increasingly important for us to keep up with and act on international developments and it will be one of my aims to ensure this happen. I am well placed to help in this regard as I am closely involved with other mutual recognition agreements, such as the Washington Accord, through my job with ECUK."

Another of his objectives is to have the Board consult more with the membership on those key issues currently facing the profession. One such issue is the possible creation of a professional card for engineers that would be recognised across Europe. While Jim supports the principle of having such a card, he cautions that it must not be allowed to devalue the European Engineer (EUR ING) title, which ECUK is committed to maintaining.

The recent Board elections - which also produced a new President - suggest a renewed determination by FEANI to move forward with its important mission and build on its earlier successes. The spirit of genuine collaboration on which the organisation was originally founded is once again in evidence.