Engineering: issues, challenges and opportunities for development ...

ENGINEERING CAPACITY: EDUCATION, TRAINING AND MOBILITYthree international benchmark standards will limit the mobilityof their graduates.Countries with large numbers of educational institutions havea related problem in trying to accredit all their institutions tothe same standard. Some of these countries are considering atwo-tier system, which produces graduates to practice nationally,at a standard slightly different to the international benchmarkstandard, and others who can practice internationallythrough their qualification fully conforming to the internationalbenchmark.Mobility – accreditation across boundaries: the EMF andETMFThe Engineers Mobility Forum (EMF) is based on the WashingtonAccord degrees and was established in 1997. A similarmobility forum, the APEC Engineers Mobility Forum, emergedshortly after in 2000. The Engineering Technologists MobilityForum (ETMF) is based on the Sydney Accord and followedthe formation of the EMF. The need for a forum for engineeringtechnicians has been being debated, but at present thereis not enough support to proceed until international agreementsat the professional engineer and engineering technologistlevel are working well.Remote campuses, foreign universities and electronic deliveryof engineering courses have raised accreditation issues, whichhave resulted in rules for the Washington Accord signatoriesthat are affected.Washington Accord signatories are also looking at approachesin which a signatory might help a neighbouring country thatis some way from establishing its own accreditation system. Atthe request of the non-member country, the signatory wouldaccredit a small number of courses in the non-member countryand list them alongside its own accredited courses. A trialis under way in Southern Africa.The accords and forums forming the IEA are by no means theonly such organizations. A European accreditation system isalso rapidly emerging, which includes countries outside theEuropean Union. Similarly there are possible arrangementsunder consideration in the Americas and Asia as well as inSouthern Africa.IssuesThere are a number of issues facing any accord or forum suchas how to:■ Encourage standards for unregulated engineers and facilitatetheir working internationally offering or acquiring skillsand experience.■standardsHelp developing countries establish appropriateand accreditation systems.■Balance the need for regional and international practitioners.Stages of career developmentAn engineer’s career development can be notionally divided into stages, as shown in the diagram. Stage 1is the education phase leading to graduation with an accredited qualification. Stage 2 follows graduationinvolving the formation of an engineering practitioner via training and experience; after being successfullyassessed, the practitioner is declared capable of independent practice, the foundation of a career in engineering.Stages 3 and 4 cover the remainder of a practitioner’s career (there are some examples of internationalagreement on these stages but they are not yet widely adopted).Stage 1GraduateStage 2Fully formed practitioner capableof independent practice,post nominal awardedCareer foundationStage 3Mid-career practitionerTechnical or management of technicalor business areas, some leadershipStage 3Later career practitionerCorporate governance, superprojects, leadership in industry orthe profession, advisor, invited rolesAccredited CourseGraduate developmentprogramme or equivalentFurther training,experience and possiblyadditional or advancedcourse workKnowledge transfer,mentoringThe EMF assessment identifies engineers with a Washington Accord degree who are sufficiently trained forindependent professional practice, which can be reached within a few years of graduation. A post nominal,the International Professional Engineer (IntPE), was approved by the EMF in 2005 for use on completion ofstage 2. The APEC Engineer assessment accepts degrees from a number of jurisdictions including those ofthe Washington Accord and requires seven years of postgraduate experience. Those jurisdictions that aremembers of both APEC Engineer and EMF usually maintain only one register system meeting the requirementsof both agreements.■Maintain Continuing Professional Development even whenthe engineering sector is facing shortages.Continuing Professional Development is critical in maintaining stage 2 competencies, but is also needed tofacilitate career change or to prepare for more senior roles; indeed, it is a requirement of the mobility forums.361