IMechEImproving the world through engineering

Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Professional Registration through the IMechE

David BarrettRegional Manager

North West, N Ireland, RoI

Myths

You can’t achieve professional registration under 35.You must have a full Masters degreeYou have to sit a special examination.It’s only relevant for large organisations.Experience doesn’t count – you have to have a university degree.It takes years to gain professional registration.It’s only for young graduate engineers

Excuses

I’ve been meaning to get round to this for ages, but…….Sounds good but I hear it’s very complicated.It won’t make any difference to me in my company.There are no Professional Engineers in my companyI haven’t had the time.

Agenda

Who we areTypes of membershipBenefits of membershipHow to become a Professionally Registered EngineerQuestions and Answers

Vision and Purpose

VisionImproving the world through engineering

Setting the agenda Developing professional engineers Inspiring the next generation

Purpose To lead and promote professional engineering

Values

The IMechE expects all its members and employees to commit to the Vision and the Values of:

Professionalism Integrity High ethical standards Respect for people and the environment Innovation

Who we are

One of the most prestigious and well known Professional Institutions in the world.

founded in 1847 by George Stephenson

almost 80,000 members in 120 countries

located in Birdcage Walk in Central London

a learned society

a guardian of standards

a voice for the profession

Profile of a Professional Engineer

Exercises independent, technical judgement and decision making

Is dedicated to creativity, innovation and continuous improvement

Accepts complexity and minimises ambiguity

Has professional and personal integrity

Profile of a Professional Engineer

Adapts to rapid change

May have direct responsibility for professional & technical staff

Plays a key role in wealth creation

Takes an active part in the training and development of young engineers

3 Types of Professional Registration

•Chartered Engineer (CEng)

•Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

•Engineering Technician (Eng Tech)

Chartered Engineer ( CEng)

•Develops appropriate solutions to engineering problems, using new & existing technologies.

•May design and apply new technologies.•May promote advanced design & design methods•May pioneer new engineering services & management methods.

Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

•Characterised by ability to act as exponents of today’s technology through creativity & innovation technology•Maintain & manage applications of current and developing technologies.

•Variously engaged in technical & commercial management.

Engineering Technician (EngTech)

•Applying proven techniques/procedures to solutions ofpractical engineering problems.

•Competent in exercising creative aptitudes/skills within defined fields of technology

•Contributes to the design/development/manufacture/commissioning/operation & maintenance of products, processes & systems

C Eng / IEng / EngTechFIMechEFellowFellow

C Eng / IEng/ EngTechMIMechEMemberMember

AssociateAssociate AMIMechE

REMEMBER: IMechE is there to help YOU at every stage of your career

REMEMBER: IMechE is there to help YOU at every stage of your careerAffiliateAffiliate

From non member to member….

•has the required Academic profile

•has developed competence through having completedappropriate Initial Professional Development

•can demonstrate the evidence of gaining the required levels competence as a Professional Engineer by writing a Professional Review Report (not required for EngTech)

•Attendance at a Professional Review Interview (not required for EngTech.)

Membership provides

• International recognition of professional competence

• ‘I know that I am professional. The letters after my name make sure that others know too.’

• Enhanced employment opportunities

• A medium for lifelong Professional Development

Membership provides

• Involvement in the development of profession• A network of technical & social contacts• Access to events, publications, info’ & library servicesand business centre

• Professional Engineer mailed out every 2 weeks• Other specialist publications available• www.imeche.org

Professional Registration

Academic Requirements

UK SPEC highlights that there is a route to Professional Registration for all competent

engineers

Academic Benchmarks

Eng Tech

NC/ND (OND)NVQ3/SVQ3

City and GuildsB TEC

SCOTVECTech Certificate fromApproved Apprentice

Programme

Professional Development

Academic Benchmarks

Professional Development

IEng

BEng / BSc

HNC/HNDFoundation degree

+Further Learning

Professional Development

Academic Benchmarks

CEng

Professional DevelopmentMEng

BEng (Hons)+

Further Learning Professional Development

Alternatives to Accredited Degrees

• A non-accredited engineering degree that meets the requirements of EC(UK)

• Other relevant degree (e.g. physics) where the holder can demonstrate equivalent engineering academic knowledge

• Engineering Council examinations or alternatives

• Technical Report Route

Technical Report RouteTechnical Report Route

• For people without formal academic qualifications,but meet the competence requirements

• 2,500 -10,000 word technical report required (dependent on prior experience)

• Can be written around work based projects

Professional Registration

Initial ProfessionalDevelopment

Initial Professional Development

• A good grounding in basic engineering principles that builds onacademic knowledge

• Likely to be achieved in a position of professional responsibility

• Development should be such that an individual is capable of demonstrating competence as an engineer

UKSpec Competencies

Standards set/defined by Engineering Council on behalf of the UK engineering profession.

Establish proven knowledge, understanding & competence

Registrants being competent throughout their working life by virtue of education, training & experience.

Competence based assessment

There are five generic competence headings, with differing requirements for each type of Professional Registration

> A) Knowledge and understanding

> B) Practical applications

> C) Leadership skills

> D) Communication and interpersonal skills

> E) Professional conduct

To become Professionally Registered you must be able to demonstrate having level 3 in 3 of the competencies and level 2 in 2.

Competence based assessment (A)

Use a combination of general and specialist engineering knowledge and understanding to optimise the application of existing and emerging technology (CEng) – to apply existing & emerging technology (IEng)

> used/developed emerging technologies

> well thought out problem solving including justified creative solution

> considered all possible outcomes for resultant product

> identified and met customer needs for product

> developed processes and techniques which enhance productivity/quality

> demonstrated clear understanding, and application, of engineering principles if at management level

Competence based assessment (B)

Apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of engineering problems (CEng) – to the design,development,manufacture,construct, commission, operate & maintain,products, equipment, processes, systems & services (IEng)

> managed project through entire life cycle

> managed technical and non-technical staff within the project

> responsible for delegating tasks

> identified and resolved problems before they occurred

> approved and evaluated design drawings

> produced tender documentation, feasibility studies or technical specifications

> (de)commissioned equipment

> responsible for corporate engineering policy

Competence based assessment (C)

Provide technical, commercial and managerial leadership (CEng) –technical management (IEng)

> project/line manager or team leader responsible for technical and non-technical staff

> supervised (multi-disciplinary) team based projects in research and/or development programmes or problem investigation

> active participation in design review

> contributed to development of improved processes

> in-house training and development of technicians, skilled craftsmen and/or engineering graduates

Competence based assessment (D)

Use effective communication and interpersonal skills

> Communicated effectively and concisely (verbal and written)

> evidence of presentations to colleagues, customers and suppliers

> papers given at conferences

> evidence of established working relationships

> able to articulate ideas and proposals and obtain agreement from others

> prepared tender documents and technical specifications

> developed small teams within a project/line-management environment

Competence based assessment (E)

Make a personal commitment to live by the appropriate code of professional conduct, recognising obligations to society, the profession and the environment

> understands health and safety issues within the remit of responsibilities

> considered environmental risk and disaster recovery

> understands professional code of conduct

> aware of sustainable practices and legislative issues

> understand how career is to develop in the medium term

> evidence of external activities

Scoring Competence - UK SPEC

Level 1 - Aware> Performs activity with significant supervision and

guidance> Performs basic routine tasks; little or no responsibility

Level 2 - Familiar> Performs activity in a range of contexts> Supervision only required in more complex circumstances> Some individual responsibility or autonomy

Level 3 - Skilled> Performs activity in some complex or non routine contexts> Significant responsibility and autonomy – can oversee the

work of othersLevel 4 - Expert

> Performs activity in a wide range of complex or non-routine contexts

> Substantial personal autonomy – can develop others in the activity

How do you demonstrate having those UKSpec skills & competencies?

The Professional Review Report

The Professional Review Report

What is it?

A 2500-3000 word report (double spaced and typed)An opportunity to prove yourself as a Chartered or an Incorporated EngineerA confidential documentWritten in the first person singularSigned by a sponsor – CEng/IEng (not necessarily Mechanical)Assessed by the interviewers before your interview

Professional Registration

Structure of Professional Review Report

must provide evidence of competence acquired through IPD

introduction - brief summary of career

main text - critique of your experience

Suggest you select projects which demonstrate range and depth ofyour role and responsibilities

Professional Review Report

•Identify size of project (£)

•How problems identified & resolved

•Technical content - depth & breadth

•Use of new & emerging technologies

•Safety, quality & environmental issues

•Your level of responsibility & autonomy

•Where and how your role fitted in

•Leadership skills - direct or indirect

•Any budgetary and/or planning control

•Technical and commercial restraints

•Evidence of verbal & written communications skills

•Learning points

Professional Review Report

Remember, the report is all about YOU: I did…, I lead….., I organised…

Highlight, for example:

> what you have done

> where you pushed forward the frontiers of knowledge

> where you introduced/worked with new technology

> how you saved money

> how you worked within the budget, to timescale, and how you were successful

Professional Registration

Application and Interview

The Interview – what is it??

Not an examination

Not a question and answer session.

Not an ordeal!!

The Interview

• A discussion among 3 professional engineers.

• Your platform to verbally demonstrate your competence as a professional engineer.

• Lasts about 45 minutes.

• You can expect to do 75% of the talking!

Mandatory interview based on:

• application form• the Professional Review Report• Development Action Plan• demonstrating competence

Professional Registration

Interview Format

• with an interview panel• Interviews officer present • discussion based on professional review report or MPDS reports• will be assessed against competence statements• interviews take place throughout the country.

Professional Registration

Interview panel will be judging:

• level of responsibility & professional judgement• length of time as professional engineer (i.e experience)• approach to problem solving• awareness of role of engineer in society• presentation skills• commitment to CPD

Interview outcome

• Interview panel recommendation goes to Professional Review Committee

• Secretary advises outcome…• Election to MIMechE or• If the interview is not successful, re-apply in one or two years

Professional Registration

Application requirements for membership

• completed application form• sponsorship by professional engineers• proof of academic qualifications• professional review report• attendance at interview

Professional Registration

Look at the Guidance Notes which are contained in the Membership Pack (available via the IMechE website)

Look at the competence statements in the guidance notes. Be honest in how you think you relate to them.

Look at the industry competence profiles on the website.