An Engine for Change - A Chronicle of the Engineering Council

1996-1998: THE RUDGE YEARS 133Forum was reformed into the Professional Development Forum, placing increasedrecognition on employer interests.In 1998 the EngC endorsed the response by IStructE [on behalf of the Profession, which wassubmitted jointly with EEF to the Secretary of State] on the Government Green Paper onLifelong Learning.Interfacing InternationallyThe EngC’s new International Committee, which replaced the British National Committee forInternational Engineering Affairs in 1996, continued to represent the United Kingdom atevents of FEANI, CEC and WFEO and also act as the United Kingdom’s point of contact forthe European Higher Engineering and Technical Professionals’ Association (EurEta).Sir John Cullen retired as Chairman of the International Committee in 1996 and in early 1997Dr Les Mercer, a Senator, was chosen as its Chairman. Brian Mott (IEng) was Vice Presidentof EurEta. Professor Levy, the pro-tem Director, Engineering Regulation, was also theSecretary of the EngC’s International Committee and Matthew Dixon joined the EngC asInternational Consultant following the untimely death of Peter Hector.During 1996 the UK Government enacted new regulations which gave effect to the ‘SecondDirective’ of the EU – the free movement of EngTech level engineers throughout Europe.With regard to FEANI at this time, Senator John Cullen became its new President and tookoffice in June 1997. Its head office moved to Brussels with a new Secretary General. InSeptember FEANI set up a task force to review the form and appeal of Eur Ing to reflect thechanging pattern of courses in Europe. In 1998 the EngC’s International Committeesupported FEANI’s efforts to enhance the Eur Ing title and to maintain links with EurEta andthe Washington Accord. The Washington Accord, now with Hong Kong and South Africamaking eight participating countries, began to consider moves towards the Engineers’Mobility Forum which would lead to mutual international recognition of full professionalqualifications such as CEng and PE and not just of their accredited academic component. Butin accordance with the Activity Review [see above], and over-riding the objections ofProfessor Levy, the EngC withdrew from the WFEO and considered withdrawing from theCEC because of their perceived ineffectiveness. With hindsight it can be noted that suchmoves were not in accordance with the EngC’s 1997 MOU with Government.As mentioned earlier in this Chapter, the Professional Young Engineers (PYE) associatedwith the EngC became quite involved with international events during this period. In June1997 they sent representatives to the European Young Engineers’ (EYE) Council inCopenhagen at which the UK became the 11 th nation to join. In October PYE helped toorganise a seminar in Edinburgh for Young Engineers from the Commonwealth; thosepresent prepared a declaration that was tabled for the Commonwealth Heads of Governmentmeeting on the following day. In November the UK assumed the Presidency of the EYECouncil at its meeting in Karlsruhe and in June 1998 the UK hosted the EYE Councilconference in London.In summary on the international front Mike Heath the Director General at the time concluded:© Engineering Council UK 2004