IGEM
Technical Report Option
Workshop
Wednesday 26th October 2011
Purpose
To clarify for current and potential
CEng and IEng applicants who do not
have the exemplifying qualifications,
what is required to achieve a
successful Technical Report as part of
their application for professional
registration
Desired Outcomes
• Understanding of the purpose and role of the Technical
Report in the professional registration process
• Understanding of the IGEM Technical Report process and
the support available from the Institution
• Understanding of the requirements for preparing and
delivering a successful Technical Report
• Clarity on what Assessors expect of a Technical Report
• Potential candidates to have a clearer view on how to draft
an appropriate synopsis
• Potential candidates are able to judge whether the
Technical Report route is likely to be appropriate for them
• Feedback suggestions to improve the ECUK/IGEM process
Time
Programme Activity
Led By
10.30 – 10.35
Welcome & Introduction
Malcolm Howe
10.35 – 10.40
Route to membership
Malcolm Howe
10.40 – 11.00
Exemplifying qualifications for CEng / IEng and
options for applicants without them
Andy McPhee
11.00 – 11.20
Technical Report Option Requirements
Malcolm Howe
11.20 – 11.40
Role of the Mentor and Mentee
Paul Hurford / Paul Sinclair
11.40 – 12.00
Technical Report Synopsis and List of Contents
Gordon Davies
12.00 – 12.30
Preparation of the Technical Report
Geoff Lloyd
12.30 – 13.10
Lunch
13.10 – 14.00
Assessment of the Technical Report and IGEM approval
process
Jim Sibley / IGEM
14.00 – 15.00
Questions and Answers on individual applications /
issues
All Presenters
15.00
Summing up, feedback to IGEM and further IGEM
assistance
Malcolm Howe
Approx 15.30
Finish
Introductions
Including:
• Brief resume of qualifications and
experience
• What you would like from the
workshop
Routes to
Membership
Dr Malcolm Howe
Receive initial Membership enquiry
UKSPEC exemplifying qualifications?
No
Yes
Sufficient relevant
experience?
Technical report or other
option?
Yes
Professional review process
ECUK registered member
Entry Level
Professional Development
Requirement
Technical Report Preparation
Category/Grade of Membership
Eng Tech Route B
B Eng + Further Learning
or M Eng
Professional
Development
Member
C Eng
Technical
Report
HND/Foundation Degree +
Further Learning or B Eng
Professional
Development
Member
I Eng
Technical
Report
GNVQS/NVQ 3/4 or Equivalent
in Engineering Subject
Professional
Development
Member
Eng Tech
Non-engineering qualification
at or above S/NVQ Level 3
Professional
Development
Manager
Member
Technical
Report
S/NVQ 1/2 or Equivalent in
Engineering subject
Professional
Development
Eng Tech
Route B
Associate
Member
Student
Professional
Development
Eng Tech
Route B
Associate
No qualifications
Professional
Development
Technical
Report
Exemplifying Qualifications
for CEng and IEng
Andrew McPhee
Exemplifying Qualifications
CEng
An accredited Bachelors degree with honours in
engineering or technology (3 years full-time or 4
years with a work placement)
Plus
Either an appropriate Masters degree accredited by
a professional engineering institution, or
appropriate further learning to Masters level
Or
An accredited MEng (4 years full-time)
Exemplifying Qualifications
Please note:
Accredited degrees are listed on the Engineering
Council website
National Recognition Information System, NARIC
UK, makes formal ‘academic’ assessments of
non-UK degrees and other qualifications
Qualifications hold their historic accreditation
values
Exemplifying Qualifications
Similar arrangements apply to IEng
An IEng accredited Bachelors or honours degree in
engineering or technology
Or
A Higher National Certificate or Diploma or
Foundation degree, plus appropriate further
learning to degree level
Or
An NVQ4 or SVQ4 which has been approved for the
purpose by a licensed engineering institution
Examples of Exam
Questions from
Exemplifying
Qualifications
Copies available on table
Options for Applicants without
Exemplifying Qualifications
Candidates who do not have the exemplifying
qualifications must clearly demonstrate they have
achieved the same level of knowledge and
understanding as those with exemplifying
qualifications.
What are the options?
Options for Applicants without
Exemplifying Qualifications
• Taking further qualifications (top up)
• Completing appropriate work-based or experiential
learning
• Writing a Technical Report, based on the
candidate’s experience and demonstrating his/her
knowledge and understanding of engineering
principles and their application
Technical Report Option
Dr Malcolm Howe
What are the specific requirements for
the Technical Report?
Candidates should:
• Have completed appropriate initial professional
development; and
• Have exercised engineering responsibility
commensurate with Registration as a Chartered or
Incorporated Engineer
• Have one of the following qualifications and/or have
experienced a period of relevant engineering
experience in posts of increasing responsibility to the
appropriate level
What are the specific requirements
for the Technical Report?
CEng:
• BEng (Hons) accredited engineering degree plus
relevant experience (in lieu of a formal period of
further learning)
• Relevant HND/HNC plus relevant experience
• No relevant qualifications plus substantial relevant
experience
What are the specific requirements
for the Technical Report?
IEng:
• Relevant HND / HNC / NVQ Level 4 plus relevant
experience (in lieu of a formal period of further
learning)
• No relevant qualifications plus substantial relevant
experience
Role of the Mentor and Mentee
Paul Hurford
Paul Sinclair
Mentoring Relationships
Follow a life cycle:
•
•
•
•
Rapport building
Setting direction
Making progress
Winding down
The Role of the Mentor
•
•
•
•
•
•
Communication
Organisation
Location
Flexibility
Manage Expectations
Feedback
The Role of the Mentor
•
•
•
•
•
•
Test
Fearless
Change management
Know your limits
What makes a successful mentor?
Benefits/What’s in it for me?
Common Areas that Mentors overlook
– Commercial Acumen – generally
– Depth of Engineering knowledge required
for Chartered Membership, particularly via
the Technical Report route.
– Applying creativity.
– Team/Section Management.
– Environmental Practice/Knowledge required.
– The role of the Institution.
My Stages of Membership
Paul Sinclair
•
•
•
•
•
•
IGE- IGEM route
1990 - 1994: Associate Member IGE
1994 - 1999: IGE Engineering Technician
1999 - October 2011: IGEM Incorporated Engineer
My initial C Eng application to IGE 2006.
My academic shortfalls
Entry Level
Professional Development
Requirement
Technical Report Preparation
Category/Grade of Membership
Eng Tech Route B
B Eng + Further Learning
or M Eng
Professional
Development
Member
C Eng
Technical
Report
HND/Foundation Degree +
Further Learning or B Eng
Professional
Development
Member
I Eng
Technical
Report
GNVQS/NVQ 3/4 or Equivalent
in Engineering Subject
Professional
Development
Member
Eng Tech
Non-engineering qualification
at or above S/NVQ Level 3
Professional
Development
Manager
Member
Technical
Report
S/NVQ 1/2 or Equivalent in
Engineering subject
Professional
Development
Eng Tech
Route B
Associate
Member
Student
Professional
Development
Eng Tech
Route B
Associate
No qualifications
Professional
Development
Technical
Report
Mentor and Me
Mentor engagement 2006 (Colin Higgins)
Starting my MSc in 2006 attainment in 2008
Attempted my synopsis April 2007
Synopsis accepted in January 2008
Mentee not meeting time scales
Conclusion
•
•
•
•
•
Going forward without a mentor
Synopsis approved - January 2008
2008 IGEM trained Mentor
Technical Report started - January 2008
Final Technical Report submission - January 2011
(No
formal Mentor)
• Pre-Interview - May 2011 Including some coaching
(Mentoring)
• Technical Report Interview – July 2011
• Professional Review Interview – October 2011
• Elected as a Chartered Member – 10th October 2011
The Technical Report
Gordon Davies
Synopsis for the Technical Report
• Description of the project
• Demonstrating the candidate’s personal role and
responsibility in the project
• Demonstrating the candidate’s personal
understanding of underlying scientific and
engineering principles and their application in the
project
Template for Preparing the Synopsis
Part 1: Contents List
Part 2: Project Idea Statement: -
-
I will demonstrate my knowledge and understanding of the
engineering principles for this project by … etc.
Part 3: Personal Role Statement: - I will describe my personal role and responsibilities in the
project at the grade of my application, i.e CEng or IEng level …
etc
Part 4: Academic Level Statement: - I will demonstrate my knowledge and understanding of the
project to MEng or equivalent level for CEng and to BEng level or
equivalent for IEng by … etc
KEY
To indicate how you will demonstrate
your understanding of scientific
and engineering principles
commensurate with the level of
qualification required for the grade of
membership being applied for
Synopsis and Technical
Report examples are
available on the table
Preparation of the
Technical Report
Professor Geoff Lloyd
Different Kinds of Reports
Reports come in many different
shapes and sizes. Their primary
function is to:
• Inform
• Pursuade
• Recommend
Five cardinal principles underpin clarity of style
and presentation, namely:•
•
•
•
•
Accuracy
Clarity
Simplicity
Logical Development
A pleasing physical appearance of the report
as a whole
Model for the Research Report
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Title Page
Declaration
Abstract
Acknowledgement
Contents Page
List of Tables
Introduction, Aims
and Objectives of
Research
• Literature Review
• Research Methodology
• Main Findings and
Analysis
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
(and further research)
• Bibliography
(reference section)
• Appendices
Use of Footnotes in a Report
Registration with CORGI was voluntary at first,
where Gas Installers could join to gain support
and information on standards, legislation and
show their customers they were associated with
the growing CORGI brand. Registration with Gas
Safe is now compulsory for anyone wishing to
attempt work on gas applicances and gas
installations.
`I regret however that the Survey Officer who is responsible
for the preliminary investigation as to the technical
possibility of installing a telephone at the address quoted
by any applicant has reported that owing to a shortage of a
spare pair of wires to the underground cable (a pair of
wires leading from the point near your house right back to
the local exchange and thus a pair of wires essential for the
provision of telephone service for you) is lacking and that
therefore it is a technical impossibility to install a telephone
for you at……’
‘I regret to inform you that we are unable to install a
telephone without considerable expense because there is no
cable connecting your home to the main underground network
and the local exchange’
‘ I recorded basic information on how they used the
tool in terms of the stroke, height and any force
they applied. The data was recorded through
observation and a stopwatch, so I took then
sample times and I calculated the median value to
prevent any distortion from the average.’
‘Basic information as to how the tool in terms of the
stroke, height and any force that was applied was
through observation and by using a stopwatch. In
total, ten sample times were taken and the median
value calculated thus minimising any distortion from
the average values.’
Preparation of the Technical Report
As simple as ABC
• Accuracy
• Brevity
• Clarity
Checklist
Have I kept to the original topic and covered all the
main points?
Have I gone into sufficient depth to demonstrate that I
understand the underlying engineering principles and
can apply them in a rigorous and logical manner?
Are the points that I make relevant to the topic,
argument or outcome?
Have I supported my themes, calculations and
arguments adequately by using relevant theory,
examples and references?
Have I set out my thought processes, what decisions I
made and why?
Checklist Continued…
Have I set out my thought processes, what decisions I
made and why?
Have I acknowledged all sources and references?
Have I written clearly?
Have I remained within the word count?
Have I completed the authenticity statement to the
papers?
Lunch Break
Assessment of the
Technical Report And
Approval Process
James Sibley
IGEM
Assessment Criteria
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Technical Skills
Theoretical knowledge
Summative
Formative
Innovation and ideas development
Research background
Career appraisal
Technical Report Interview
• Candidate submits completed application and
Technical Report
- Was it reviewed by the Mentor?
- Does it meet the objectives set out in the agreed synopsis?
• Two Assessors appointed by IGEM
- May include an Independent observer
• Initial review of Technical Report
- Preliminary score given (Scoring discussed later)
• IGEM arrange Technical Report Interview if
report deemed acceptable
The Interview
• Two trained Assessors
- an independent observer may also attend
• Normally 1 - 1½ hours
• It is an academic test but informal
- So try to relax!
• The Assessors have already deemed your
report acceptable
- It’s about showing you can communicate and you understand
what you have written
The Interview
• Give a brief overview of your report and put it
into a broader context (15 mins)
• Remember the Assessors want to establish that
you understand and know about engineering
principles relevant to your report
• Interview conclusions
– Your opportunity to ask questions and clarify any points
• After the interview, Assessors complete scoring
sheets
Methods of Assessment
4 Assessment Criteria Used
A. Structure of report, creativity and referencing
B. Written expression, definition, style,
presentation and readability
C. Evidence of theory and application of
engineering principles to Bachelor level (IEng)
or Masters level (CEng)
D. Ability to handle issues and draw conclusions
Scoring
A. Structure of report, creativity and referencing
1. Lacks structure, addresses topic in a limited manner,
referencing inaccurate or incomplete.
2.
Addresses the topic with some evidence of structure, some
referencing and evidence of flair.
3. Addresses the topic in logical and structured manner,
accurate research referencing and creativity demonstrated.
4. Clearly addresses the task in a structured and logical
manner, good support documentation, highly creative.
B .Written expression, definition, style, presentation
and readability
1. Meaning not always clear, lacks focus, presentation does
not meet requirements.
2. Meaning and text reasonably clear, does not always make
the point, evidence of logical style, presentation
satisfactory.
3. Meaning clear, illustrated frequently in a logical manner,
well presented and finished.
4. Meaning clear and fluent, originality in thought and
expression, high standard of presentation.
C. Evidence of theory and application of engineering
principles to Bachelor level (IEng) or Masters level
(CEng)
1. Limited evidence of background knowledge and
understanding, poor supporting theory, errors and
inaccuracies, weak application.
2. Evidence of subject knowledge and understanding, no
significant errors, limited development of theory,
understands principles.
3. Adequate to good arguments and points, demonstrates
understanding, no significant errors, good application.
4. Comprehensive development of ideas, clear evidence of
understanding with sound application of principles.
D. Ability to handle issues and draw conclusions
1. Superficial relevance and limited comprehension, errors in
judgments and misleading summary.
2. Some relevant issues are identified and discussed, shows
comprehension, no significant errors or omissions, some
conclusions drawn.
3. Relevant issues and problems identified and discussed with
some analysis, good summary of lessons learned.
4. Relevant issues and problems identified and discussed with
some analysis and synthesis, action plan identified.
Scoring
Scoring system is used twice
(a)Pre-Interview and (b) At Interview
(a) Assessors will make an initial assessment for each
of the criteria A to D, based on the Technical
Report
If the overall score is less than 8 the candidate
is normally asked to revise and re-submit.
(b) At Interview
Second assessment of criteria C & D made
Applicants should normally score at least two 3’s
and two 2’s (Total 10), including at least one 3
in C or D
Successful applicants are invited to proceed to
Professional Review Interview
(N.B Not undertaken by the TR Assessors)
IGEM Approval Process
IGEM
IGEM Approval Process
• Submit a completed corporate application form and
a 500 word synopsis including a contents list
• Synopsis submitted to Academic Panel for approval
• Word limit of full Technical Report advised
• Prepare Technical Report and submit
• Two IGEM Assessors appointed
• Approve Technical Report?
- Assess Technical Report
- Attend Technical Report Interview
• Now meets qualification requirements!
Arbitration and Appeals Procedure
•
Appellant
- Written notice of intention within 4 weeks of receipt of
notification
• IGEM
- Membership Staff explain procedure of what constitutes
grounds for appeal and request appeal fee of £30
•
Appellant
- Within a further 4 weeks, written statement of grounds for
appeal and supporting statements from sponsors
•
IGEM
- Membership Staff refer the case to CEO
- CEO conducts investigation and refers the case to
Council
- Council sets up an Appeals Panel of 2 experienced
members not on the Membership Committee &
not on the original Professional Review Panel
- Panel review case and may interview candidate
- Panel report the recommendation to Council
- Council make a final decision
• IGEM Decision
– CEO conveys decision to
• Candidate
• Membership Department
• Membership Committee
• Apellant
– Appeal successful – fee refunded & standard application
route
– Not successful – fee retained
Technical Report Clinic
Questions & Answers
Break out Groups
Individual discussions as necessary
Workshop Review &
Feedback
Purpose
To clarify for current and potential CEng and
IEng applicants who do not have the exemplifying
qualifications, what is required to achieve a
successful Technical Report as part of their
application for professional registration
Desired Outcomes
• Understanding of the purpose and role of the Technical
Report in the professional registration process
• Understanding of the IGEM Technical Report process and
the support available from the Institution
• Understanding of the requirements for preparing and
delivering a successful Technical Report
• Clarity on what Assessors expect of a Technical Report
• Potential candidates to have a clearer view on how to draft
an appropriate synopsis
• Potential candidates are able to judge whether the
Technical Report route is likely to be appropriate for them
• Feedback suggestions to improve the ECUK/IGEM process