By Engr. Rocky HT Wong, PEng, FIEM

1. Joint ISTIC-UNESCO Conference on Ethics in Science & Technology.15 June 2009, Eastin Hotel, PJ.“Enculturation of Ethics for Scientists & Engineers for a Sustainable Future” ENGINEERING & THE ENGINEER ~ PROFESSIONALISM A WAY OF LIFE :- “THE VALUE OF ETHICS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION” By Engr. Rocky HT Wong, PEng, FIEM Hon FAFEO cum ASEAN Engineer, Founder Fellow AAET, Hon Fellow (TEEAM), The Head Commissioner – ASEAN Engineers Register, Chairman; the IEM Pro-ETI Bureau, EAC Councilor, UTAR Industry Advisory Panel, IEM (Principal Interviewer), etc. (Representative from the BEM)

2. BACK TO BASICS

3. A Definition Of :- 1.0 ENGINEERING is the profession in which… • A knowledge of the mathematical & natural science… • Gained by study, experience & practice… • Is applied with judgement… • To develop ways to utilise… • Economically… • The materials & forces of nature… • For the benefit of mankind.

4. A Definition Of :- 2.0 ENGINEER shall mean a person who… • By reason of his special knowledge… • And use of mathematical, physical & engineering sciences… • And the principles & methods of engineering analysis & design… • Acquired by education and experience,… • Is qualified to practice engineering. An Engineer is a professional.

5. 3.0 Characteristics of engineering students :- • A strong interest in and ability to work with mathematics & science; • Better problem-solving skills, e.g. ability to think through a problem in a logical manner; • A knack for organising & carrying through to conclusion the solution to a problem; • An unusual curiosity how & why things work ~ keen to be multi-skilled; • Responsible young persons with higher ambition in life, and who look forward to be professional engineers in due course.

6. 4.0 A technical specialist, these days, more so an engineering services professional, may be referred to as either engineer, scientist, technologist, technician, or (in the Malaysian context) a TA. • The difference between a scientist and an engineer is :- • The scientist primarily uses mathematical & physical science to acquire new knowledge; • Whereas, the engineer applies similar knowledge to design & develop usable devices, structures and processes. • In short : the scientist seeks to know the engineer aims to do.

7. GLOBALISATION & REGIONALISATIONOF THE K-ECONOMY

8. 5.0 Knowledge Society :- • A society organised around the production and application of knowledge with social economic, cultural and political implications; and it • Gives rise to knowledge-economy (i.e. K-economy) wherein economic value accrues from knowledge intensity, especially human knowledge, intelligence & creativity become key assets for “Services”. • The engineer well-grounded with “Know-Why” of mathematical & natural sciences; equipped with “Know-How” principles & methods of engineering analysis & design; and the “Know-What” ability to apply technology is the fit-for-purpose K-worker; more likely , the leader of the engineering team of K-workers.

9. 6.0 The Team :- • Globalisation & Regionalisation of the K-economy introduced the term: “Engineering Services Professionals” – otherwise referred to as the Engineering Team consisting of:- • The Engineer (benchmarked to WA) • The Engineering Technologist(benchmarked to SA) • The Technician (benchmarked to DA), and • The TA / Engineering Asst ( a local grade) • Code of Ethics apply to all the engineering services professionals in the team; with engineers being additionally governed by the REA’67 & companion Registration of Engineers Regulation 1990 ~ in particular Part IV; the “Code of Professional Conduct”.

10. 7.0 The engineering functions carried out by the Engineering Team can be in the areas as follows :- • Research , • Development, • Design, • Production, • Testing • Construction/Installation, • Operation & Maintenance, • Sales, • Management, • Consulting, • Teaching & Training • Regulators/Technical Officers • Miscellaneous

11. ENGINEERINGASUSTAINABLE FUTURE

12. 8.0 The Engineer :- • Focusing on “ The Malaysian Engineer” – the natural person who is expected to have a BEM / IEM recognized qualification based on an EAC accredited engineering programme which would have the breath and depth of knowledge content that will enable a graduate engineer to solve complex problems now and in future and create newer technology for a sustainable future. • The enculturation of ethics for Malaysian engineers begins in the undergraduate years of an EAC accredited engineering programme.

13. 9.0 The Graduate Engineer :- • The Engineer, on graduation, shall have acquired in 4 years:- • Scientific strength • Professional competency; and be: • Multi-skilled, • Well-respected and a potential industry leader, and • Morally and ethically sound. The sum total of which shall prepare the Engineer to be technically competent and a well-respected professional spearheading technology and wealth creation. • Matching : to prove one’s professional standing with either BEM (by way of the PAE), or the IEM (by way of their PI), the graduate Engineer shall be; ethical, competent, intellectual, mature and responsible.

14. 10.0 Professionalism is a way of life :- • A professional person is one who engages in an activity that requires a specialised & comprehensive education, and is motivated by a strong desire to serve humanity. • A professional thinks & acts in a manner that brings favour upon the individual & the entire profession • A professional, besides technically competent, shall have a positive attitude toward life that is continually reinforced by educational accomplishments & professional service.

15. 11.0 The professional engineer to have the following :- • Specialised knowledge & skills used for the benefit of humanity. • Honesty & impartiality in engineering service. • Constant interest in improving the profession. • Support professional & technical societies that represent the professional engineer; why? Because the rapid development in science & engineering is the work of technical societies. • The engineer is a member of society, and must be able to integrate and socialise with the community at large.

16. 12.0 COE & COPC :- • The BEM’s Code of Professional Conduct is Part IV of the 1990 Regulation; What then is the engineering services professionals’ (or the Engineers’) Code of Ethics (COE)? • The Engineer’s Code of Ethics is a constellation of noble ideas binding the following into a virtuous paradigm of what a Professional Engineer and his upright bearing should be :- • The Profession : An Engineer shall at all times uphold the dignity, standing and reputation of the profession by his behavior, action and words. • With Colleagues : An Engineer shall not maliciously or recklessly harm or attempt to harm whether directly or otherwise the professional reputation of another engineer, but shall however foster the reputation of colleagues for the advancement of the profession.

17. Towards Employers and Clients : An Engineer shall serve employers and clients with honesty, loyalty and integrity in conforming to the highest standards expected of their respective community. • The Public : An Engineer in providing his services shall at all times be governed by the paramount interest of the public, in particular their welfare, health, safety and environment. • Oneself : An Engineer shall maintain and enhance his health and competency in subscribing to self and continuing professional development.

18. 13.0 What is the difference between the COE & the COPC? • The Engineer’s Code of Ethics represents the collective stance and the shared conviction of Fraternity of Engineers. The sanctity of the Code amounts to a Honour Pledge which when breached brings shame and dishonour to both the transgressor and the profession. There is no legal enforcement; only self-respect and self-esteem, and the chosen inviolable value of life for someone belonging to a noble profession. If we don’t respect ourselves, who would, - that is the point and the bottom-line.

19. The BEM’s Code of Professional Conduct represents the “Law” and when broken, investigation and disciplinary processes follow; akin to the legal procedures of the “Court”. Should the respondent registered engineer be found to have indeed “broken the law”, his act unbecoming of a registered engineer will be criminalized!

20. GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE~ WITH GRP’S & IBMS

21. 14.0 GRP’s + IBMS = GCG • Sustainable future, in the context of enculturation of an ethics programme for scientists and engineers vis-à-vis the welfare of current & future generation among others, is primarily Good Corporate Governance (GCG). • The equation of GCG; has on the Demand Side : Good Regulatory Practices (GRP’s) as practiced by S.E.T. Regulators & “Mandarins”; whilst on the Supply End : Integrity Business Management Systems (IBMS) are adopted by S.E.T. professional services providers & scholars.

22. The underpinning criteria for GRP’s and IBMS are ethical principles as spelt out in COE ~ in what ever form it may take (the FIDIC Code of Ethics given in Appendix I is a good case of example) – they have similar principles which form the foundation of CGC and its GRP’s and IBMS. • When professionalism is a way of life and CGC is the expectation as part of Human Rights; all these being possible, because enculturation of ethics programmes has taken root ~ beginning in an EAC accredited engineering programme in the undergraduate years. • Hence, the values of ethics in engineering education.

23. REINVENTINGTHE FUTURE?

24. 15.0 Challenges of the future :- • The world continues to undergo rapid changes; • The huge tasks of providing energy on the one hand & climate change on another, • Maintaining a supply of water & food vis-à-vis environmental sustainability, • Rebuilding infrastructures & retooling facilities, • Technology of space etc.. ~ All these add up to challenges of the future which will be beyond current imagination! • But we know one thing for sure; and that is the need to enculturatise ethics from student days!

25. 16.0 How about reinventing the future? A total transformation? • Early engineers were more effective in leading change because they were fully integrated in society ~ they were craftsmen and inventors with the engineering profession beginning as craft guilds & technology began independently of science. • The “scientification” of technology has reduced engineering to fixed formulas & methodologies dampening creativity. • The “professionalisation” of engineering has constrained engineers to rigid rules & regulations : standardisation! • Along the way; values may have been lost!

26. 17.0 ENGINEERS ~ RISE! • Engineers should rise to the occasion – lead social transformation by becoming once more imaginative & responsive to society’s needs; meaning engineers can reinvent themselves & society if we reintegrate & resocialise ~ contribute more to “Know-What” & the “Know-Who” than the “Know-How”. • Besides science, engineering & technology, we may need to be students of “Know-When” and “Know-Where”, i.e. we need to be students of history & geography. • And we need the enculturation of Ethics for engineers for a sustainable future ~ beginning with Ethics in Engineering Education!

27. THANK YOU