‟An Engineer is “educated”
and an Engineering
Technologist is “trained” for
the job.
behind from the nation’s talents pool. Anyone
can enhance one’s KSA domains through
lifelong learning through continuing professional
development (CPD) and trans-discipline learning
i.e. boundary-less learning.
Conclusion
Once again reference is made to the IEA’s Position
Paper wherein three categories of “Engineering
Practitioners” are identified, viz (a) Engineer to
the Washington Accord for engineers (WA), (b)
Engineering Technologist to the Sydney Accord for
Engineering Technologists (SA), and (c) Engineering
Technician to the Dublin Accord for technicians (DA).
In Malaysia there is some confusion between
attaining WA and SA status as both take four
years to graduate. The difference is in the breadth
and depth of STEAM subjects and principles.
An Engineer is “educated” and an Engineering
Technologist is “trained” for the job.
Industry needs more Engineering Technologists
than Engineers to man its routine “production and
at-works activities”, operations and maintenance
plus repair and overhaul services, etc. Often,
Engineers “work down”, attracting comments and
unreasonable expectations, e.g. “Engineers aren’t
trained for the job!”.
It is time Industry takes note of the differences
between the two. Engineering Technologists are
trained for current technologies while at an IHL.
Whereas Engineers are educated with breadth
and depth of STEAM subjects/principles to create
future technologies, solve complex problems –
now and in future that will make a positive impact.
Industry will get due dividends in the long run by
hiring and developing professional engineers.
Acronyms
BEM - Board of Engineers Malaysia
CBTS - Cross Border Trade in Services
CPD - Continuing Professional
Development
CQ - Creativity Quotient
CQI - Continual Quality Improvement
DA - Dublin Accord (for Engineering
Technicians)
EAC - Engineering Accreditation Council
EEAC - Engineering Education
Accreditation Council
EQ - Emotional Quotient
ESTI - Engineering, Science, Technology
& Innovation
ETAC - Engineering Technology
Accreditation Council
GATT - General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trades
IAB/P - Industry Advisory Board/Panel
IEA - International Engineering Alliance
IHL - Institution of Higher Learning
IQ - Intelligence Quotient
ISO - International Standards
Organisation
NMC - National Monitoring Committee
O&M - Operation & Maintenance
OBE - Outcome-Based Education
OJT - On the job training
OSHE - Occupational Safety and Health
P.E. - Professional Engineer
PLO - Program Learning Outcome
PO - Program Outcome
PRA - Professional Regulatory Authority
QA - Quality Assurance
QC - Quality Control
SA - Sydney Accord (for Engineering
Technologists)
SAR - Self-Assessment Report
SQ - Spirituality Quotient
STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering,
Arts and Mathematics
WA - Washington Accord (for Engineers)
WIP - Work in Progress
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