Hi Andy and Alasdair,


I've read your comments with interest, especially around developing engineers and mentoring - in large part because following a brief secondment in Registration & Standards, I'll be heading back to look after the candidate support services (in IPD and Mentoring) after the Easter break.


Career Manager allows for self-assessment, in a similar way as MPDS, although the IET do not have a formal monitoring of this the IMechE do in part because of the restrictive nature and wider audience that the IET support and the increased number of candidates that we see with non-exemplifying qualifications that therefore have to undertake some element of work based learning along side their competence development.  Candidates can still use Career Manager in this way, and I would be interested if you think there would be benefit in providing more structure to this, or more guidance on this.


In terms of mentor training, I may be wrong but my understanding on the free mentor training that the IMechE offer, is around how the Career Developer system and MPDS system work rather than mentoring skills training and understanding of professional registration.  As Career Manager, the Career Developer equivalent, is free to all members to use and there are extensive guidance documents and video tutorials on how to use this we consider this as being an alternative for mentors supporting members in the system.  The Mentor Training the IET offer is much more around training mentors in the process of mentoring, and I understand that the IMechE charge for thier similar course in this area as well.


In terms of candidates support and bringing down the age at which members apply (assuming of course that they have developed the underpinning knowledge and understanding and competences required) is something we're always looking for ideas on progressing so feel free to drop me an e-mail at: profdev@theiet.org if you have any ideas.

Hi Andy and Alasdair,


I've read your comments with interest, especially around developing engineers and mentoring - in large part because following a brief secondment in Registration & Standards, I'll be heading back to look after the candidate support services (in IPD and Mentoring) after the Easter break.


Career Manager allows for self-assessment, in a similar way as MPDS, although the IET do not have a formal monitoring of this the IMechE do in part because of the restrictive nature and wider audience that the IET support and the increased number of candidates that we see with non-exemplifying qualifications that therefore have to undertake some element of work based learning along side their competence development.  Candidates can still use Career Manager in this way, and I would be interested if you think there would be benefit in providing more structure to this, or more guidance on this.


In terms of mentor training, I may be wrong but my understanding on the free mentor training that the IMechE offer, is around how the Career Developer system and MPDS system work rather than mentoring skills training and understanding of professional registration.  As Career Manager, the Career Developer equivalent, is free to all members to use and there are extensive guidance documents and video tutorials on how to use this we consider this as being an alternative for mentors supporting members in the system.  The Mentor Training the IET offer is much more around training mentors in the process of mentoring, and I understand that the IMechE charge for thier similar course in this area as well.


In terms of candidates support and bringing down the age at which members apply (assuming of course that they have developed the underpinning knowledge and understanding and competences required) is something we're always looking for ideas on progressing so feel free to drop me an e-mail at: profdev@theiet.org if you have any ideas.