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

How does IET define Innovation to meet CEng Standards

I am hoping that the senior PRAs can guide me to better understand the definiton of Innovation and what is expected to meet CEng Standards. My personal interpretation is that Innovation is any new product, new process or new idea.


As a person working as a Construction Manager building critical infrastructure projects, i dont make complex calculations or use complex softwares for analysis apart from using Planning tools like MS Project or Primavera . Hence it is important for me to understand what constitutes Innovation to meet the CEng standard. I have plenty of examples to demonstrate innovation but for this particular instance I am using an example where I developed a planning tool (Excel sheet) where it estimates the optimal utilisation of construction resources by extrapolating data from the characteristics that i analysed in the project life cycle and evaluated each projects. I am not giving full detail here for confidetiality. This innovation could be seen in the eyes of a Rocket Scientist as trivial since it does not do complex calculations or no patents involved. However, in the eyes of my business or working in my sector could be seen as Innovation as this is a new product which improves efficiency in working.


By textbook defintion of the UKSPEC A2 competency, they have made it ambigous by choosing very few scenarios and saying "could include an ability " rather than "should include an ability " leaving it to the reviewer for subjective interpretation.

Engage in the creative and innovative development of engineering technology and continuous improvement systems.


This could include an ability to: 

' Assess market needs and contribute to marketing strategies

' Identify constraints and exploit opportunities for the development and transfer of technology within own chosen field

' Promote new applications when appropriate

' Secure the necessary intellectual property (IP) rights

' Develop and evaluate continuous improvement systems.



I spoken to PRA on this and receieved his response that contradicted the PRI conclusion. Since i have already been told by IET Professional Registration Team that the PRA is only to advice and their advice does not mean this can be accepted by the review committee, I believe that this is the right forum to raise the query as it makes clearer for everyone similar to my position where the definition is vague.
Parents


  • Hi Simon,


    There are many one liners to say what makes it to be CEng but it is the detail that i am looking for. Competencies and Objectives should be SMART - Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant and Time bound. The issue here is that the specific requirement and how that is measured is something that can be interpreted. When someone who are in the boundary line of meeting a requirement which could be viewed in either ways depending on how you say it and how the receiver understand and interprets the wording through  his experience, it can go either ways.

    I have not claimed in my application that working on a project as an example of Innovation. I used two examples in my application that was viewed acceptable in the eyes of the PRA but not to the person who reviewed my application.

    I do understand the difficulty when it comes to the PRA as he needs to use his professional judgement to allign with the IET and Eng Council Requirement.

    I received very good advice for yourselves and thankful to the PRAs for taking their time and effort to explain. But I would be happier to see it coming from the guidance notes and that it be updated with the same points made from discussion in various topics. While going through his forum, I saw couple of good points which I admit that I never checked prior to making the application since i believed that the guidance notes, UKSPEC, IET CEng competency requirements, PRA advice will suffice. I have seen detailed discussion and interpretation of requirements which would have been easier if it cames as official guidance.

     

Reply


  • Hi Simon,


    There are many one liners to say what makes it to be CEng but it is the detail that i am looking for. Competencies and Objectives should be SMART - Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant and Time bound. The issue here is that the specific requirement and how that is measured is something that can be interpreted. When someone who are in the boundary line of meeting a requirement which could be viewed in either ways depending on how you say it and how the receiver understand and interprets the wording through  his experience, it can go either ways.

    I have not claimed in my application that working on a project as an example of Innovation. I used two examples in my application that was viewed acceptable in the eyes of the PRA but not to the person who reviewed my application.

    I do understand the difficulty when it comes to the PRA as he needs to use his professional judgement to allign with the IET and Eng Council Requirement.

    I received very good advice for yourselves and thankful to the PRAs for taking their time and effort to explain. But I would be happier to see it coming from the guidance notes and that it be updated with the same points made from discussion in various topics. While going through his forum, I saw couple of good points which I admit that I never checked prior to making the application since i believed that the guidance notes, UKSPEC, IET CEng competency requirements, PRA advice will suffice. I have seen detailed discussion and interpretation of requirements which would have been easier if it cames as official guidance.

     

Children
No Data