ECUK Workshop 21 Sept 2009 Mentoring for Registration

ECUK Workshop 21 Sept 2009 Mentoring for Registration Mentoring ICE candidates for the Technical Report Option Some lessons we have learned Presented by Richard Larcombe FICE

Standard Route Mentoring • Supervising Civil Engineers/Delegated Engineers support trainees registered on Approved Training schemes. • A team of Membership Development Officers (who are ICE employees and mainly Chartered or Incorporated Engineers) operate throughout the Regions and offer advice to all trainees on the different options to becoming professionally qualified.

TR Option - Extract from ICE 3004 • Through the Technical Report Option: • You may demonstrate that you have compensated for any shortfall in your educational base through training and experience gained in the workplace • You must show the same knowledge and understanding of scientific & engineering principles as your peers who have followed the ECUK- SPEC exemplifying academic pathways. • The greater the shortfall, the greater is the need to demonstrate compensating experience

TRR – The role of the Mentor The Mentor: • Must know the details & requirements of the Technical Report Option • Must know the academic standards • Must know the candidate’s strengths & weaknesses • Must have: • Esteem in the eyes of the candidate • Good listening & interpersonal skills • Personal availability & time • Personal integrity • Must be able to discuss and criticise the candidate’s evidence

TRR – Academic criteria for ECUK grades • EngTech (level 3 in the NQF) • Basic mathematical skills • Basic science of materials • Basic construction technology • IEng (level 5 in the NQF) • A sound understanding of engineering principles • Application of different approaches to solving problems • Development of personal responsibility & decision-making • CEng (level 7 in the NQF) • Study and research at the forefront of academic discipline • Systematic and creative approach to complex issues • Originality in tackling and solving problems

Extract from ICE 3001 and ICE 3002 Attributes for EngTech, IEng and CEng • Engineering Knowledge & Understanding • Engineering Application • Management and Leadership • Independent Judgement and Responsibility • Commercial Ability (IEng, CEng)/Commercial Awareness (TMICE) • Health, Safety and Welfare • Sustainable Development • Interpersonal Skills and Communication • Professional Commitment

Technical Report (TR) – the Stage 1 submission • CV • Needsto contain evidence of meeting the attributes • Synopsis of Technical Report • Identify engineering principles • Persuade the assessors that the full TR will demonstrate that the academic standards have been met

TR – the Technical Report What is an engineering principle? A working definition might be: A scientific theory, proved in practice, that describes the behaviour of engineering materials, structures or systems

TR – the Stage 2 submission • Experience Report • Expands on CV • Technical Report • Expands of synopsis • CPD documents • Evidence of regular reviews of learning needs, CPD plans, CPD activities & records, and their evaluation

TR – The Lead sponsor/mentor The lead sponsor/mentor must confirm: • I have full knowledge of the current review requirements • I have scrutinised the candidate’s submission • I believe that the candidate is a fit and proper person for admission to membership of the ICE

TR – Stage 3 • The presentation • The Academic Interview • The Professional Interview • The written assignment/written test (if applicable)

TR mentoring – what have we learned? Good TR mentors make for successful candidates Mentors don’t always know the TR requirements Mentors don’t always scrutinise candidates’ submissions Mentors don’t always do very much mentoring A TR mentor may only perform this duty once in a career Getting at mentors and training them is the challenge

ECUK Workshop 21 Sept 2009 Mentoring for Registration