The Indian Engineers Co-ordination Meeting - IEI Chairman’s Welcome address
on 6th August 2012I take immense pleasure in addressing the esteemed representatives of 3000 plus Indian
Engineers in Kuwait
Respected office bearers of KEF& TEF Forums, Alumnus, Administrator of ASSE, representatives
from Aliged University and other Institutions representatives’ from Tamil Koota, and IEI
Members and guests and Well wishers.
- Good evening to you.
As you are aware we are here
1. To know each other more closely so that we can interact with you in future.
2. To find ways to resolve issues related to KSE Membership.
3. To find ways to strengthen IEI, hence IEI can represent The Indian Engineers.
What are our Issues of Concern?
1. KSE membership is the main issue. The biggest hurdle we all face is approval of
Engineering Degrees of some of the Indian Engineers for the KSE Membership. As you
know, it is mandatory on the part of any qualified Engineer, irrespective of his
nationality, to obtain membership in Kuwait Society of Engineers in order to working in
Ministries, Universities, and Government projects as well as in some cases in private
sector.
A. KSE recognizes colleges which have been listed by National Board of Accreditation
(NBA) under KSE’s accreditation programme. KSE has its own team of office bearers for
evaluating the individual application for membership. The membership with KSE is
granted only if the University / Institution from which the candidate has passed his
Bachelor of Engineering (or B. Tech.) are accredited by NBA for that particular branch of
engineering.
 In Dec 2005 NBA has accredited only 349 colleges against 1,346 colleges listed under
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
 From the information available from website it appears that, till May, 2009 only 786
Institutions out of 1346 got accredited. Since then, there is no update on website
regarding accreditation and registration of Colleges/Institutions.
 We have learned that there are more than 3000 Engineering Colleges as on today
however we do not know how many are accredited.
B. NBA & AICTE list do not include Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), National Institutes
of Technology (NITs), and Deemed Universities, some of the autonomous Engineering
colleges/Institutes which are falling directly under the control of Ministry of Human
Resource Development (MHRD).
C. Architects who have completed their graduation from Indian Universities are also facing
similar problems.
D. Further the directories published by AICTE and NBA have “Period of Validity of
Approval” against each programme and college. As these directories are published on
periodical basis, it is observed that some of the Colleges / Institutes are not listed in
these directories and therefore Engineers who have completed their graduation at an
earlier date, find it difficult to obtain the approval for their degrees.
What were IEI’s suggestions to resolve the issue?
In view of the above IEI and Indian Embassy have conducted several meetings with different
Government bodies in India such as MHRD, AICTE and NBA and suggested the following from
the year 2000 onwards. None of the suggestions worked out even after several follow ups. I will
go through the main points to keep you informed and to avoid discussions on these failed
proposals.
1. MHRD being the apex body in India to publish a comprehensive list consisting of all the
approved engineering colleges/Institutes established under different entities indicating
various courses/ programmes offered by them. MHRD shall forward the consolidated
list to KSE and MHE through Embassy of India for approval of Universities, Eng. Colleges
and Institutes etc
2. National Board of Accreditation (NBA) has entered as a member of Washington Accord
and thereby international recognition would be in place for the engineering degrees
from accredited institutes. It was disappointing to note that very few Institutes in India
have completed this accreditation programme. It was proposed that till the time
majority of colleges / Institutes complete their accreditation programme, MHRD should
forward a letter to MHE through Embassy of India that the degrees authenticated and
attested by MHRD India and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) be recognized and
approved by Ministry of Higher Education (MHE), Kuwait Society of Engineers, the
Kuwait University, and Civil Service Commission etc.
What IEI have succeeded so far?
Even though from year 2000 in wards IEI had conducted many visits of the delegates
representing the KSE, MHE and Kuwait University during the period 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007 to
Indian universities, AICTE, MHRD spending more than KD 10,000, we did not achieve except the
following:

With the cooperation of the Embassy we have been able to resolve the matter
with MHE Kuwait, to some extent, and MHE is certifying degrees of Indian
Engineers whose college names are appearing in the directory published by
AICTE.

KSE has taken a firm stand to recognise only the colleges which have been listed
by NBA under their accreditation programme, however KSE is accepting IITs and
Central Universities even though we do not have any written agreement in this
regard.
Why you should join IEI?
1. Resolve the KSE Membership issues
Indian Engineers in Kuwait are members of various Associations, Engineering forum,
Engineering College Alumni, Institutions, organisations and we do not have a single united body
where all our Indian Engineers are under one umbrella and to represent the grievance of Indian
Engineers on various issues of concern to the concerned authorities.
2. Get benefit from IEI educational programmes such as Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) etc.
IEI conducts monthly Seminars/ Workshops/Site visits etc. Being an International body,
representing Engineers in Global arena, we often get involved with International conferences,
paper presentations etc. We are already a sponsor for fort coming International conference on
Bridge Design and Construction Conference and presenting Technical papers and Workshops.
We also have regular-Ladies Wing-Science Club-Environmental Club activities
3. Take benefit of India’s entry to the World Engineering Mobility Forum (WMF)
India is a full member of World Mobility Forum (EMF) and IEI’s certified international Professional
Engineer called Int.PE have acquired free mobility to practice Engineering in the EMF member countries
such as Australia, Canada, Japan, UK, USA etc .
What you need to do?
1. Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IEI, Kuwait Chapter.
Advantages
 Together with your help we can try to resolve the Membership issues.
 You will be informed of IEI Seminars and other Professional Development
programmes, for which you need to, pay the actual expense.
 We can conduct join programmes occasionally, however expenses to be born
together.
But I make one thing clear here,
 By signing MOU you are still not a member of IEI Kolkata. The procedure to join
IEI is a different procedure. Similar to any International body you need to submit
membership application to the HQ.
 You are not a full member of IEI, Kuwait Chapter. You are enrolled as a Non
Member.
2. Nominate a committee
3. Starting from 45th Engineers Day, our directory can contain the list of Engineers listed
under Forums, Associations, and Alumnus in Non member Category.
4. Send your feed back to IEI, Kuwait Chapter
5. Agree a time frame to form the committee.
With this I retire from my welcome address. I thank everybody for listening patiently
and looking forward to do more great things in the years to come.
Engr. Joseph Panicker, B.E, FIE, PE (I), Int.PE (India)
Chairman, Kuwait Chapter
The Institution of Engineers India
Mobile: (+965) 99413279
Email: panickars@hotmail.com