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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.

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0 Roy Bowdler over 4 years ago

Colin,

As I’m sure you are already well aware, the IET aspires to support all professionals and joining the Engineering Council register is one way of doing that. I would encourage anyone aspiring to high standards and continual learning to consider that option. Incidentally, I served an Apprenticeship as an “on the tools” craft -based Technician and later headed a “Training School” Department, when major industries had such establishments.

When I gave some support to the Electrician Eng Tech initiative, I emphasised that it isn’t just about “wearing the badge”, but taking an active interest and making a contribution. The roots of the “problem” under discussion here lie in the disconnection between Engineering Council and other members of the “engineering establishment” with “the mainstream” of working Technicians & Engineers. This can only be repaired by more sensible voices from that background becoming more engaged and equally respected.

When it was stronger, IEng was mainly held by more practically orientated engineers grown from the apprenticeship tradition into “managing engineers”. Many of these were highly responsible, “top-class experts” in the industries they populated. However, the system of measurement, based on academic qualifications and to some extent social status, valued them less. In their own “clubs” which mostly merged into the IIE, they were highly regarded.

But as our society became increasingly academic, academic snobbery began to supplant social snobbery. So for example, when I offered IEng to my recently honours degree qualified student Engineers (via 4 year apprenticeship) 15 years ago, they didn’t want it. Others had already positioned the category in their minds as similar to a “third class or unclassified degree”. Which for the those who have not been to university is pretty humiliating. The institution (not the IET) also classified them as “Associate Members”, lower than age group peers who they were often patently superior to.

Having largely “killed off” respect for and interest in Eng Tech & IEng. The PEIs sought to fill the gap with undergraduates and graduates in training respectively. There is nothing wrong with these people who hopefully will continue to build good careers, with my enthusiastic support. However, the effect has been to treat the other two categories as “junior” or “part qualified” Engineers.

If this was done with the intention of creating a clear pathway to Chartered through in-career development, then I would be strongly supportive. It wasn’t!

The door has been opened a little and it has become possible, via the IET at least, to achieve Chartered though career progression. However, this is still a potentially long and poorly signposted “swamp” which can take years to navigate. The “express toll road” open to those with top A levels in Maths & Science can be sighted in the distance, but professional humiliation is potentially in between.
The IET has at least given mid-career engineers a better chance, by emphasising competence and offering helpful guides (PRAs). Another major PEI plays very strongly in its niche and also offers a similar opportunity, but there are many influential groups in the Engineering Council world who simply don’t want “Technicians” in their “club”, although they may take your money.

For the avoidance of doubt, this isn’t some sort of “class war” on my part. I was lucky to find a pathway to a good level via Masters, Chartered (not CEng) and Fellowship, from Apprentice. This should be demanding, but also “normal” for anyone who has the talent and drive. Some of my former apprentice colleagues enjoyed excellent and lucrative careers staying “on the tools”. "Different but equally valuable".

I hoped that the revitalisation of Apprenticeships, might eventually save the day, but the Jury is out right now.
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0 Roy Bowdler over 4 years ago

Colin,

As I’m sure you are already well aware, the IET aspires to support all professionals and joining the Engineering Council register is one way of doing that. I would encourage anyone aspiring to high standards and continual learning to consider that option. Incidentally, I served an Apprenticeship as an “on the tools” craft -based Technician and later headed a “Training School” Department, when major industries had such establishments.

When I gave some support to the Electrician Eng Tech initiative, I emphasised that it isn’t just about “wearing the badge”, but taking an active interest and making a contribution. The roots of the “problem” under discussion here lie in the disconnection between Engineering Council and other members of the “engineering establishment” with “the mainstream” of working Technicians & Engineers. This can only be repaired by more sensible voices from that background becoming more engaged and equally respected.

When it was stronger, IEng was mainly held by more practically orientated engineers grown from the apprenticeship tradition into “managing engineers”. Many of these were highly responsible, “top-class experts” in the industries they populated. However, the system of measurement, based on academic qualifications and to some extent social status, valued them less. In their own “clubs” which mostly merged into the IIE, they were highly regarded.

But as our society became increasingly academic, academic snobbery began to supplant social snobbery. So for example, when I offered IEng to my recently honours degree qualified student Engineers (via 4 year apprenticeship) 15 years ago, they didn’t want it. Others had already positioned the category in their minds as similar to a “third class or unclassified degree”. Which for the those who have not been to university is pretty humiliating. The institution (not the IET) also classified them as “Associate Members”, lower than age group peers who they were often patently superior to.

Having largely “killed off” respect for and interest in Eng Tech & IEng. The PEIs sought to fill the gap with undergraduates and graduates in training respectively. There is nothing wrong with these people who hopefully will continue to build good careers, with my enthusiastic support. However, the effect has been to treat the other two categories as “junior” or “part qualified” Engineers.

If this was done with the intention of creating a clear pathway to Chartered through in-career development, then I would be strongly supportive. It wasn’t!

The door has been opened a little and it has become possible, via the IET at least, to achieve Chartered though career progression. However, this is still a potentially long and poorly signposted “swamp” which can take years to navigate. The “express toll road” open to those with top A levels in Maths & Science can be sighted in the distance, but professional humiliation is potentially in between.
The IET has at least given mid-career engineers a better chance, by emphasising competence and offering helpful guides (PRAs). Another major PEI plays very strongly in its niche and also offers a similar opportunity, but there are many influential groups in the Engineering Council world who simply don’t want “Technicians” in their “club”, although they may take your money.

For the avoidance of doubt, this isn’t some sort of “class war” on my part. I was lucky to find a pathway to a good level via Masters, Chartered (not CEng) and Fellowship, from Apprentice. This should be demanding, but also “normal” for anyone who has the talent and drive. Some of my former apprentice colleagues enjoyed excellent and lucrative careers staying “on the tools”. "Different but equally valuable".

I hoped that the revitalisation of Apprenticeships, might eventually save the day, but the Jury is out right now.
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