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What is Fellowship?

Alex Barrett
I'm not sure which forum this belongs in, this seems to be the closest?


A question, what is Fellowship in the context of the IET? Is it the recognition by the profession of somebody who stands out in their field, their profession and in general as an engineer and character? Or is it just a "supersize" membership.

As the only route to Fellowship of the IET seems to be by applying on your own behalf, it looks like the latter. There doesn't seem to be any scope for recognising those engineers who really do stand out, but aren't self-seeking enough to look for recognition. I know personally some engineers who in my opinion are natural Fellows but would never put themselves forward for this recognition.
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    Hi Suha,


    I would disagree very slightly with Alasdair's post (and I'm sure he'd agree with my slight disagreement, a while back he and I spent a very pleasant evening in the pub discussing exactly this point!).


    The Fellowship requirements are - necessarily - slightly loose in some ways, as there are a wide range of people it is aimed at, so some additional guidance to the applicant's specific case may be required. If you are not clear whether the criteria do or do not apply to you it is well worth contacting a Fellow registration advisor - I may have got the title slightly wrong - who will be happy to help advise on your specific case. They can be found on this website on the Fellow application pages, or if you email the team at Stevenage (again the link can be found on those pages) they will help put you in touch with a local person if possible.


    I think the way I would phrase the statement in Alasdair's post is: if you are thinking of applying to be a Fellow in order to gain recognition there is a good chance you are not yet ready to be a Fellow!


    Cheers,


    Andy
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    Andy Millar:

    It's certainly not (as I understand it) intended to be a badge of honour for just slogging away in the background for 40 years or so 




    Andy, I have to disagree with you here. If you look at your everyday GP, Optician, or even Dentist, you will find some of them - who've been practicing for many years in the same location - have credentials that describe them as having fellowship of their respective organisation(s).


    It seems that the IET is no longer about STEM, but STEM plus entrepreneurship. 


    If for the many FIET is not attainable, then it stands to reason that joining (or staying in) the IET ceases to be desirable.


    I do believe in hindsight the IEE gobbling up the smaller bodies was a bad idea. Members now have to face annual increases in their membership fees; indirectly influenced by the EC, to do CPD; FIET for the majority of members is inaccessible; IET throwing money away asking members to vote for candidates to various positions. Why do members with FIETs come begging to the entire membership asking to be elected, only to then elevate the IET by adding rules make joining the IET impossible to the majority? It reminds me of the EU, taking money from the UK and then setting rules to control the UK.


    Tell me Andy, do those running the IET still know how to add up numbers,  and balance equations? Do they still believe that 2 + 2 = 4, or is that one for a committee full of Admirals and Generals - or should that be high end Sports Cars and Aircraft Carriers, to decide? devil

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    Andy,

    Your final paragraph is exactly what I meant, though maybe not what I actually wrote. The problems of composing a post while doing other things....

    Alasdair
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    My issue with IET Fellowship is that it is solely recognition sought ought by the applicant themselves. There isn't really any serious option for the body and an engineer's peers to award this recognition to a deserving engineer. Therefore part of the qualification for IET Fellowship is the urge to push yourself forward and be recognised. This suits some but not others. I had a particular case in mind of somebody at the top of his profession technically, with a long history in senior roles and sitting on IET technical committees, but not inclined to seek out recognition. Certainly he would appreciate it, but he will never ask. Therefore the IET will never award him Fellowship, although in my book he is a role model Fellow.
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    Alex Barrett:

    My issue with IET Fellowship is that it is solely recognition sought out by the applicant themselves.




    Alex,

    Yes and no. This is true but I think that every Fellow I have talked to has had to be pushed into applying for Fellow (and this includes myself). The above comment (solely recognition sought out by the applicant themselves) can also be considered true of Professional Registration but nobody complains that CEng or IEng have as part of the qualification the urge to push yourself forward. The person you have in mind does seem to be a role model for a Fellow, so maybe he can be persuaded to apply.

    Alasdair

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    I discussed this with the IET President a few generations back, he agreed that some other bodies do allow for peer recognition. I've also discussed with the Fellowship management at the IET who say that's the way it is and it isn't going to change. I hear this too much from the IET.
  • 0
    Alex,

    That's surely no different to applying for registration (C.Eng, I.Eng Eng. Tech)? I see nothing wrong with expecting somebody to actively pursue, and provide justification/evidence for recognition of senior status/, commitment/contribution, rather than waiting passively for somebody to recognise those things with no effort from the individual, indeed, I see it as a desirable characteristic of a senior professional that they should do so
  • 0
    I do agree that we hear "that's the way it is and it isn't going to change" too often from the IET, but in this instance I agree. Status/recognition should be earned, not placed on a platter at your feet. If you have the qualities expected of a Fellow, actively applying for upgrade to reflect it should be a natural extension of those qualities.
  • 0
    Alasdair,

    i agree completely, as you will no doubt gather from my own responses
  • 0
    and so we lose a most worthy Fellow. I'll continue to encourage, but won't hold my breath.

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