UK-SPEC is reviewed every five years with the last review taking place during 2013. I understand that discussions have started at Engineering Council. The IET Registration & Standards Committee will be part of any formal consultation. At the last review Engineering Council also enabled interested parties to comment on-line. This subject could perhaps be a useful forum thread if someone wants to start one?
I have described my experience of being involved in the last review, when I was representing an IEng perspective. I always found those at Engineering Council respectful. However, it became clear that the overriding priority was to undo an earlier message that the two types of Engineer were “different but equally valuable” and to ensure that the supremacy of Chartered Engineers was clear, with the other two categories of Incorporated & Technician being placed one and two rungs lower respectively. The language was “although each category has value in its own right they should be seen as a progression”. The UK-SPEC standard should be read in this context.
For anyone (especially outside the UK) seeking to deepen their understanding, I suggest looking at The Washington Accord which offers an international academic perspective that the academic representatives at Engineering Council will probably wish to maintain. Although employers of Engineers and Technicians aren’t specifically represented, some nominees from professional institutions and many registered engineers represent that varied perspective to some extent. Engineering Council as in effect a “Parliament” for professional institutions, that develops and maintains the rules for registration. It is also important to understand that professional registration is voluntary, although in some circumstances essential to a successful technical career. If something is voluntary then this creates a market where a person can choose to affiliate or not, many of the threads that emerge within these forums are driven by these sociological aspects, rather than “technical” standards.
UK-SPEC is reviewed every five years with the last review taking place during 2013. I understand that discussions have started at Engineering Council. The IET Registration & Standards Committee will be part of any formal consultation. At the last review Engineering Council also enabled interested parties to comment on-line. This subject could perhaps be a useful forum thread if someone wants to start one?
I have described my experience of being involved in the last review, when I was representing an IEng perspective. I always found those at Engineering Council respectful. However, it became clear that the overriding priority was to undo an earlier message that the two types of Engineer were “different but equally valuable” and to ensure that the supremacy of Chartered Engineers was clear, with the other two categories of Incorporated & Technician being placed one and two rungs lower respectively. The language was “although each category has value in its own right they should be seen as a progression”. The UK-SPEC standard should be read in this context.
For anyone (especially outside the UK) seeking to deepen their understanding, I suggest looking at The Washington Accord which offers an international academic perspective that the academic representatives at Engineering Council will probably wish to maintain. Although employers of Engineers and Technicians aren’t specifically represented, some nominees from professional institutions and many registered engineers represent that varied perspective to some extent. Engineering Council as in effect a “Parliament” for professional institutions, that develops and maintains the rules for registration. It is also important to understand that professional registration is voluntary, although in some circumstances essential to a successful technical career. If something is voluntary then this creates a market where a person can choose to affiliate or not, many of the threads that emerge within these forums are driven by these sociological aspects, rather than “technical” standards.
