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One way to raise standards?

23rd February 1980
Page 44
Page 44, 23rd February 1980 — One way to raise standards?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THERE is rather more than meets the eye in the proposal by Sir Monty Finniston to set up an engineering authority (CM, February 2, Birds eye view).

It would be unwise of us and perhaps the Institution of Mechanical Engineers to denigrate a proposal by using the emotive word "quango(it is not used in the report). We treat :the criticism of those who use the word "juggernautwith scant attention.

The first point is that all engineers, to their eternal regret, having failed to achieve an effective voluntary representative and authoritative body had to submit to a Government inquiry. We all gave evidence to Sir Monty.

The Institute of Road Transport Engineers' submission included the following four paragraphs: A complete register of all engineers with groupings and specialist sections professionally administered but controlled by honorary members with proven specialist ability in industry is a method of restructuring an all embracing record of engineering skills and abilities, The achievement of such a register requires that all existing holders of statutory engineering licences, certificates, professional body membership, trades union members with some technician qualifications or potential technicians in training are all attracted to the concept of registration.

The general and numerous specialist categories and levels of registrants and potential registrants might still be incorporated in the Engineers Registration Board within the Royal Charter held by the Council of Engineering Institutions. The flexibility in the Charter must be fully utilised so that the organisation and representation of all engineers meets the specialist and general needs of industry.

The cost of administration of such a register can be met when registration is seen to be a factor for both suitable specialist employment opportunities, promotion and change of employment. where shortages occur in related activities.

A register of all qualified engineers that could function effectively to assist industry and registrants would be supported by both. The establishment of a network of databases, each Institution controlling its own registrants, need not cost the taxpayer anything. We offered to "plug in" our little computer, to the Council of Engineering Institutions, as a contribution to the concept of an effective central registry some years ago.

As we also said in our evidence "The Engineers Reg

istration Board has, unfortunately, been preoccupied for too long with minutiae, such as detailed equivalence scrutiny of obscure courses, in odd colleges in remote places overseas, producing negligible numbers of registrants of doubtful value to any UK industry.

J. A. FLETCHER Secretary Institute of Road Transport Engineers London SW7


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