INGENIEUR
INGENIEUR
is also bound to register the two new categories, apart from registering only engineers prior to this, for the purpose of the provision of engineering services. Both Engineers and Engineering Technologists are given the same provision for practice under the Act. What may differ is that most Engineers will be inclined to Engineering Works in Design and Research, whereas Engineering Technologists in Supervision and Maintenance. The Engineering Technicians provide the support to the wide spectrum of the Engineering Works, ranging from trades to research.
As Malaysia is poised to become a developed country, the need for an adequate number of engineers and engineering technologists, and similarly engineering technicians become crucial. A ratio of 1:100 engineers to population, where engineers include engineering technologists, is a common standard for developed countries. Countries like Germany and Japan have even better ratios. Presently, Malaysia has a ratio of 1:300, and as such there is a dire need to bridge the gap, an important task for Malaysian institutions of higher education. A ratio of 1:2:4 engineers to engineering technologists to engineering technicians is often quoted to provide the balance needed in developing a country.
With the amended Act, it is incumbent upon the BEM to be responsible to ensure that engineering technology and engineering technician educational programmes fulfil the academic and training requirements through the accreditation process. The BEM has and continue to accredit engineering programmes through the Engineering Accreditation Council( EAC). Starting from 2017, the BEM will officially begin to accredit Engineering Technology and Engineering Technician programmes under the Engineering Technology Accreditation Council( ETAC). In keeping with international standards, the BEM has become a signatory to the ever expanding Washington Accord( substantial equivalency in engineering programmes) in 2009, and has commenced its application in 2016 to be signatories to both the Sydney Accord( for Engineering Technology programmes substantial equivalency) and Dublin Accord( for Engineering Technician programmes substantial equivalency). All the three Accords are under the purview of the International Engineering Alliance( IEA), headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand. With substantial equivalency, graduates of EAC or ETAC accredited programmes will be given the same consideration as the other signatories’ graduates with regards to the academic standing for the purpose of employment. The Accords facilitate mobility of engineers, engineering technologists and engineering technicians by acknowledging their academic qualifications.
To date there are ten signatories to the Sydney Accord; Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the USA. The Dublin Accord has eight signatories, namely, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and USA. Becoming a signatory to the Sydney and Dublin Accords( as with the Washington Accord) is a step forward to ensure all the three categories of our engineering programmes maintain their quality standard, and continually push for improvements.
The BEM is also beginning to provide professional pathways for registered engineering technologists and engineering technicians. Presently, a pathway for engineering technologists to become professional engineers has been established, through lateral movement by bridging the academic constituents. The BEM is already a signatory to the International Professional Engineers Agreement and the APEC Engineers, for mobility of professional engineers. Being a signatory to the two agreements; the International Professional Engineering Technologist Agreement( IETA) and the Agreement of International Professional Engineering Technicians Agreement( AIET) will be pursued upon the BEM being a full signatory of the Sydney and Dublin accords.
56 VOL 68 OCTOBER- DECEMBER 2016