Professional Development Analysis - Assignment Example

Introduction Professional development analysis deals with the classification and detailed study of the profession based on which requirements are determined. Every profession has a predefined set of requirements based on which an individual is rated. To accomplish this purpose, the engineering institutions and engineering council provide the students with a wide range of options that enable them to select a specific course as per their choice. A professionally qualified engineer must possess all the necessary qualifications and the relevant experience in order to become a successful engineer. To assist in this, the government of U.K has allotted a separate body that deals with professional engineers. This paper focuses on the important aspects that enable an aspirant to be a professionally qualified engineer. Levels of Professional Qualification The levels of professional qualification differ from one university to another. The major reason for such changes is the current requirement of the industries and the changing trend in the field of engineering. All these factors contribute to the decrease in the number of students who opt for technical courses and courses related to science. Though the numbers of engineering courses are increasing, courses like mechanical and manufacturing engineering continue to draw a reasonable number of people. Since the level of qualification differs based on the field of engineering, the requirements also differ. The level of professional qualification certainly depend on the field of engineering and hence the students must make up their mind according to the current needs and make sure they select a field in which they can obtain the required level of qualification. The various levels like diploma, Pre University, vocational courses, graduate and post graduate courses help the students to obtain the highest level of qualification, so as to prepare themselves for a challenging career. Though the branches of engineering are similar to some extent, mechanical and manufacturing engineering are different in their technical aspects. Due to this reason, the students who prefer these streams must ensure that they get qualified and equally experienced to evolve into a professionally qualified engineer. Selecting a Course Apart from these factors, the selection of courses depend on the university in which the student studies. As the numbers of colleges in UK are increasing considerably, it is the responsibility of the students to select a university which best suits their needs. The field of mechanical and manufacturing engineering offers a wide variety of choice to the students from which they can take up a course that specializes on this field. The levels of professional qualification include a diploma, a bachelor degree and a post graduate degree. The foundation courses provide a basic knowledge about the selected field and they are considered as a base for the next level of qualification. When analyzing these levels, one can ascertain which level would help them to be a professionally qualified engineer. Though a basic course might help them in getting an admission to a top notch institution in the country, it might not provide them with all the necessary knowledge which acts as a bridge between the college and the Pre University courses. (Institute of Civil Engineers, 1997). Since mechanical and manufacturing engineering relies more on practical aspects, the student must possess a sound knowledge on every subject. When comparing with the universities in other countries, the colleges in U.K cater the needs of the students, as the number of levels in the engineering courses are on the higher side. Each of these courses helps them to broaden their knowledge and provides them with a certain level of experience on the chosen field. (EC, 1993). The difference between the one year diploma and the two year foundation course is that the foundation course gives them a chance of getting employed into an engineering firm without studying any further courses. But in contrast to this, the American universities have a diversified approach where they provide a one year course that gives a simplified and more practical approach to this field. When comparing the basic courses with the higher level post graduate courses, the knowledge level is certainly higher, as they will possess the ability to handle any sort of a machine. Though the universities in U.K are considered to be better, there are certain aspects which act as a drawback to the students who wish to pursue their career in the field of engineering. The diploma and foundation courses do not provide a complete outlook on how the specified field will be. Instead, it acts as an intermediary between the Pre University and undergraduate courses. (Channing, 1921). Due to this reason, the students find it difficult to opt for a full fledged engineering career, as these courses fail to provide a better platform. The post graduate courses offered by the universities invariably ranges from a period of three to four years after which they can get into the field. To gain these qualifications, the universities expect the students to possess a set of qualifications which are considered to be mandatory. Requirements To emerge as an engineer, one must go through a series of processes which they must satisfy in order to get into the field of engineering. In the case of mechanical or manufacturing engineering, the requirements are different, as these courses rely more on operational knowledge rather than general bookish knowledge. To acquire the aforesaid qualifications, the candidate must satisfy the requirement criteria imposed by the university. For example, if the candidate is applying for a post graduate course at a university in U.K, he/she must fulfill the eligibility criteria specified by the university. Most of the universities expect a bachelor degree from any of the reputed institution and the range of marks might vary depending on the university. The initial step is to apply for the programmes well in advance in order to avoid problems during the admission. During the admission process, they are expected to show some sort of interest towards the engineering programme. The major step in selecting a career in the field of engineering is to select the area of specialization. Mechanical and manufacturing engineering are classified under the category of technical courses and hence it requires more of a professional outlook. The student must obtain the grades for each subject as specified by the university, failing which they will not be eligible to enroll for the courses. (Fox, 1993). Apart from all these criteria, some institutions may conduct an entrance examination and the admission to the courses will be based on their performance in the examination. An entrance examination might be conducted even during the phase of employment into an organization. This clearly states that obtaining an engineering degree or getting qualified as an engineer can be accomplished only if they satisfy the above said requirement criteria. Satisfying the requirements, holding an engineering qualification alone does not ensure that one is a professionally qualified engineer. Instead, it requires certain other aspects too. Role of Engineering Council Engineering council is the U.K government’s body that enables the engineering professionals to enroll themselves in order to be identified as a professionally qualified engineer. Engineers must register themselves with this council based on their field of study. This enables the recruiting bodies, the government and the other private limited companies to have a clear look on the certified professionals. A person registered in this council is said to have possessed a qualifying degree with relevant experience in the particular field. This eases the process of recruitment and guides them during employment, as the need for a background check regarding their qualification is eradicated. There are several categories like Incorporated Engineers, Technicians from computer, mechanical and technical branches, chartered engineers and technicians who have completed a primary diploma. An engineer must be professionally qualified and must submit all his certificates while registering in the council. Though there are numerous advantages in registering in the Engineering Council, the process of registration is a tedious one. Even to register in the engineering council there are certain eligibility criteria which the professionals must follow to become a member of this council. Most of the times this seems to be disadvantageous, as very few only have the patience and time to complete the initial procedures to become a member of the council. (Kogan, 2012). Due to this reason, the numbers of engineers in the engineering council seems to be reducing. Another reason for this decline is the limited number of people who have relevant industry experience. The industry experience is equally important when it comes to be a professionally qualified engineer. The professionals must also exhibit their technical talent and skills and this is considered as one of the major criteria. The responsibility of the professionals does not end with the enrollment in the council. Instead, they are expected to show some sort of interest and responsibility towards the activities in the society. Professionalism is expected in every aspect and the council imposes rules that they closely monitor the economic and technical changes in their respective fields. Though all these seem to be a tough task, the registration in this council is considered to be an important and mandatory one. The companies related to the engineering field treat this registration certificate as one of the major documents, which is collected even before the candidate is given an employment. Even if the engineering graduate applies for an internship in a company, this certificate is required to assure them that his candidature is genuine. In spite of the advantages and disadvantages, the Engineering Council continues to draw more number of each year. The major reason is the increase in the number of people opting for employment in government and public sector companies. The government has also widened the opportunities for professionally qualified engineers by assigning separate bodies for each of the department. This paves way for better career options and thus these professionals are given a chance to enhance their talents. Conclusion Analyzing all these aspects helps us to arrive at a conclusion that, there requirements and expectations are many when considering the professionally qualified engineer. The most appropriate route to professional accreditation is to select a field that one feels comfortable with and to enroll in the specific courses that enable them to prove their mettle. The streams like mechanical and manufacturing engineering requires a lot of hard work and technical expertise in order to get into a company that helps them to improve in their profession. A professional qualification alone will not help them to reach greater heights in their career. They must also have sound technical knowledge which in turn helps them to pave a better way. References Kogan Page., 2012. British Qualifications 2012. London: Kogan Page Ltd. Fox, R., 1993. Education, Technology and Industrial Performance in Europe. New York: Cambridge University Press. Channing, J., 1921. Engineering Council: A Department of United Engineering Society. U.S.A: University of Michigan. EC., 1993. Engineering Council. U.K: Engineering Council. Institution of Civil Engineers., 1997. 2020 Vision Transport. London: Thomas Telfrod Services. Read More