An Engine for Change - A Chronicle of the Engineering Council

ANNEX H 223things numeric with an even louder those only literate are not really educated unless they arenumerate as well. Note how many newspapers will say that something is xyz mW when theyreally mean MW. Shades of C P Snow’s two cultures. Programmes on TV like the ‘ForgottenHeroes’ can only be a force for good for engineering. Who, seeing the vacuum cleaner driven‘atmospheric railway’ could forget it?Institution of Gas EngineersThe Engineering Council has an important and influential role to perform for the professionin particular and for society in general. There is still disquiet in some quarters on theSARTOR-3 requirements and many young engineers do not see the value of the EngineeringCouncil and Institutions. It is perceived by many that the Engineering Council and theInstitutions need to be much more dynamic and that young people will not want to associatewith the bureaucracy that still exists. These challenges must be actively and comprehensivelyaddressed with transparent metrics devised and shared.Institute of PlumbingYou will see we are actively involved in a wide range of issues of importance to both thepublic and industry. If you were to ask me to identify four key topics, my choice would be:-• Self-regulation - finding the right balance.• The urgent need for “joined-up” industry and Government.• Increased training to EngTech level.• Greater recognition of competent and committed plumbing professionals.Institute of Marine EngineersMy contacts with Registrants, which I am bound to say are not numerous, lead me to believethat, after Licensing of Engineers and Technicians, by far the biggest single topic isUnification. This does not necessarily mean that the Fairclough model is the perfect one but,away from Councils and Administrations, individual Engineers look with envy on theMedical, Legal, Accountancy or Architectural professions (to name a few) as well as to the0Engineering profession in other countries and ask why we cannot emulate them.Institution of Incorporated EngineersThe new Engineering Council and the Institutions set out with the promise of working toachieve a united profession; one in which the many elements work together in mutual cooperationand collaboration for the common good. Regrettably, despite the efforts of seniormembers and staff of the Engineering Council and others, including IIE, real progress seemsto have been rather less than might have been achieved.Association of Cost EngineersIf it was possible to start with a completely fresh approach, rather than being saddled withwhat already exists, there would only be one Chartered body with a series of divisions,together with legally protected titles, and whatever restrictive practices the organisation couldget away with.© Engineering Council UK 2004