This discussion is locked.

You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Value in IEng Registration

Afternoon all, just sitting behind a laptop screen pondering and found myself plotting course for my career progression and seemingly unlikely professional registration for CEng.

My current employer has encouraged that I achieve CEng registration (easier said than done) and any promotion to the next grade would be subject to attaining CEng. I'm wary of submitting my application for CEng due to not having an adequate level of education (I have a Bachelors degree only) and at my age there's little chance of me returning to university for further study. I'm employed as a senior engineer and acting principal engineer within a project I'm currently commissioned. I appreciate that working at a principal engineer level does not necessarily provide the evidence required to prove that my understanding and knowledge is at a MEng level.

Rewind a few years, I was reasonably proud of successful registration and to achieve IEng, however, to date I'm of the opinion that it has done little else other than measurement / benchmark of my competence and identify area's in which I need to strengthen. My employer (at the time of registration) did not professionally recognise IEng registration and from my own observations nor do other employers (that I've noticed). A cursory glance of job listings on LinkedIn, shall normally state a requirement for applicants to hold CEng registration or working towards CEng with no mention of IEng. There's an immense pressure to achieve Chartership and with failure to do so could be possibly observed as I'm either inadequate or not quite cutting the grade by a prospective or current employer.

Is there any value to the IEng registration other than a personal achievement and worth maintaining? I imagine the nervousness and apprehension about navigating the CEng route and the fear of failure that I'm not unique in this respect and other's may have a similar story? Not sure what I would wish to hear, but knowing of others that succeeded with a similar background and level of education would provide some encouragement.

Regards,

Allan.

Parents

0 Roy Bowdler over 4 years ago

Colin,
I would encourage you to go for IEng, as I would anyone else, having understood its benefits and limitations. I don’t like to see registration “oversold” because it may lead to bitter recrimination later. In general, at a personal level IEng find themselves warmly welcomed and respected within the IET.

The most difficult situations are often where, someone clearly has “status” or “seniority”, beyond a recently registered CEng and feels confident about their technical capability. However, that “technical ability” isn’t held in as higher regard by IET assessors.

You could get a feel from some earlier posts in the thread. This isn’t usually a big problem when seeking IEng. But as I have said in the past that “the ramparts of CEng are more heavily defended”. Some volunteer assessors are very keen on academic evidence and see the “gap” between someone with an HNC and an accredited degree as “huge chasm”. Others don’t like too much “hands on”.

For example, an SME Principal that I tried to help, had completed an approved MSc at considerable personal expense, only to be denied because to much of his work seemed like “Technician type”. Obviously, he had to take what work paid the bills. I think that he eventually chose Chartered recognition elsewhere, as there is a type of Chartered Engineer that is outside of Engineering Council control.

Jim,

As you know, Engineering Council has struck “sweetheart deals” in the past to simplify the process for influential people. I don’t think this lowered standards in any way, but it does offer some justification for your argument.

This issue only arises because so many people progressed strongly in the work place, but couldn’t get appropriate recognition, without clearing the rigid hurdle of “academic requirements” set as a prerequisite.

My personal view is that there has to be a “proper process” for transition. I was a keen supporter of the MSc Professional Engineering courses designed for experienced engineers, but the cost of academic engagement has inflated considerably in recent years and we shouldn’t force people into something that they don’t need.

Looking to the future we need a system that doesn’t replicate the mistakes of the past, so we should all be “progressing” without unnecessary barriers and PEIs should be helping that progression.

We chose to use the education system of schools and universities to “weed out” those teenagers who didn’t excel in mathematics, as being unsuitable for the “heights” of our profession. We didn’t completely close the door to the rest, but they got at least a 15-year penalty, before they were allowed to come back and beg to be allowed to produce a Technical report in lieu.

Unfortunately, on the international stage The International Engineering Alliance and Washington Accord run by academics, will continue to use academic courses as the primary measure of an Engineer. It is difficult for the UK to change if the rest of the world doesn’t. For example, some countries will only accept degree evidence from prospective migrants.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Cancel

Reply

0 Roy Bowdler over 4 years ago

Colin,
I would encourage you to go for IEng, as I would anyone else, having understood its benefits and limitations. I don’t like to see registration “oversold” because it may lead to bitter recrimination later. In general, at a personal level IEng find themselves warmly welcomed and respected within the IET.

The most difficult situations are often where, someone clearly has “status” or “seniority”, beyond a recently registered CEng and feels confident about their technical capability. However, that “technical ability” isn’t held in as higher regard by IET assessors.

You could get a feel from some earlier posts in the thread. This isn’t usually a big problem when seeking IEng. But as I have said in the past that “the ramparts of CEng are more heavily defended”. Some volunteer assessors are very keen on academic evidence and see the “gap” between someone with an HNC and an accredited degree as “huge chasm”. Others don’t like too much “hands on”.

For example, an SME Principal that I tried to help, had completed an approved MSc at considerable personal expense, only to be denied because to much of his work seemed like “Technician type”. Obviously, he had to take what work paid the bills. I think that he eventually chose Chartered recognition elsewhere, as there is a type of Chartered Engineer that is outside of Engineering Council control.

Jim,

As you know, Engineering Council has struck “sweetheart deals” in the past to simplify the process for influential people. I don’t think this lowered standards in any way, but it does offer some justification for your argument.

This issue only arises because so many people progressed strongly in the work place, but couldn’t get appropriate recognition, without clearing the rigid hurdle of “academic requirements” set as a prerequisite.

My personal view is that there has to be a “proper process” for transition. I was a keen supporter of the MSc Professional Engineering courses designed for experienced engineers, but the cost of academic engagement has inflated considerably in recent years and we shouldn’t force people into something that they don’t need.

Looking to the future we need a system that doesn’t replicate the mistakes of the past, so we should all be “progressing” without unnecessary barriers and PEIs should be helping that progression.

We chose to use the education system of schools and universities to “weed out” those teenagers who didn’t excel in mathematics, as being unsuitable for the “heights” of our profession. We didn’t completely close the door to the rest, but they got at least a 15-year penalty, before they were allowed to come back and beg to be allowed to produce a Technical report in lieu.

Unfortunately, on the international stage The International Engineering Alliance and Washington Accord run by academics, will continue to use academic courses as the primary measure of an Engineer. It is difficult for the UK to change if the rest of the world doesn’t. For example, some countries will only accept degree evidence from prospective migrants.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Cancel

Children

No Data

Value in IEng Registration

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Community Rules & Guidelines