An Engine for Change - A Chronicle of the Engineering Council

206A CHRONICLE OF THE ENGINEERING COUNCILArticle 2(Government recognition)(1) The Government acknowledges and endorses the essential role of the EngineeringCouncil in representing the collective commitment of the Engineering Council, theEngineering Institutions and the engineers and technicians on its register constituentmembers’ collective commitment to maintaining the highest standards of engineeringexpertise for the benefit of the community.(2) Accordingly, the Government will look to the Engineering Council, amongst others, tooffer advice, where appropriate, on national issues such as education, training, industrialcompetitiveness, risk, the environment and others where engineering is a major factor, with aview to ensuring education and training issues that the national education and training policyhas a sufficient quality supply of the most talented people at every level of the engineeringworkforce to meet the expected skills needs of employers.(3) It is noted that the Government has supported the establishment of a national network ofIndustry Training Organisations/National Training Organisations ITOs/NTOs for all industrysectors, including the engineering sectors, and that consultations by the Government withthese and other employer-led engineering bodies will also, from time to time, be appropriate.Article 3(Government support in international organisations)(1) The Government recognises the Engineering Council as the United Kingdom member ofthe World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), the European Federation ofNational Engineering Associations (FEANI), the European Higher Engineering andTechnical Professionals’ Association (EurETA), the Commonwealth Engineers’ Council(CEC) and the Washington Accord. The Engineering Council will keep the Governmentinformed of developments in these organisations. The Engineering Council is theGovernment’s designated authority for the implementation of the two European GeneralSystems Directives for mutual recognition of professional qualifications with regard to theEngineering Profession in the United Kingdom. The Engineering Council shall make periodicprogress reports to the Government on the implementation of these Directives.(2) The Government will support the Engineering Council in its efforts to engage actively ineducation and training policy with other countries through European and other internationalorganisations, international agreements and other arrangements in the interest of promotingthe mutual recognition of qualifications and the United Kingdom’s trade and industry. TheEngineering Council shall keep the Government informed of developments in these matters.(3) In respect of matters falling within the scope of the Royal Charter, the Government willkeep the Engineering Council informed of any intergovernmental discussions which mayhave an impact on the Engineering Profession or associated technical regulations, unlessthere are reasons of confidentiality for not doing so. It will invite, amongst others, theEngineering Council where appropriate to participate in such discussions, especially thosewhich may lead to intergovernmental agreements concerning the Engineering Profession, andwill fully take into account the Engineering Council’s views on the best means ofimplementing such agreements. This applies with particular regard to the European Unionand its programme for the elimination of barriers to employment and trade.© Engineering Council UK 2004