Engineer

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An engineer is a person who is professionally engaged in a field of engineering. Engineers are concerned with developing economical and safe solutions to practical problems, by applying mathematics and scientific knowledge while considering technical constraints.[1][2] As such, the work of engineers is the link between perceived needs of society and commercial applications.

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[edit] Role in society

In addition to design and development, many engineers work in testing, production, or maintenance. These engineers supervise production in factories, determine the causes of component failure, and test manufactured products to maintain quality. They also estimate the time and cost to complete projects. Some move into engineering management or into sales. In sales, an engineering background enables them to discuss technical aspects and assist in product planning, installation, and use. Supervisory engineers are responsible for major components or entire projects.[2]

Engineers use computers extensively, for the production and analysis of designs, the simulation and testing of the operation of a machine, structure, or system, and the generation of part specifications. Many engineers also use computers to monitor product quality and control process efficiency.[2]

[edit] Regulation

In some countries of Continental Europe and Latin America the title is limited by law to people with an engineering degree, and the use of the title by others (even persons with much work experience) is illegal. In Italy the title is limited to people who, besides holding an engineering degree, have passed a professional abilitation exam (Esame di Stato). In Portugal, professional engineer titles and accredited engineering degrees are regulated and certified by the Ordem dos Engenheiros. In the Czech Republic the title "engineer" (Ing.) is given to people with a (master) degree in chemistry, technology or even economics (the last one is due to the historical reasons and tradition).

Laws exist in all U.S. states, Canada and in South Africa which limit the use of several engineer titles, particularly the title of "Professional Engineer," and often also titles indicating a specific, regulated branch of engineering, such as "civil engineer" or "mechanical engineer." Most U.S. states prohibit unlicensed persons from calling themselves an "engineer" or indicating branches or specialties not covered by the licensing acts. The IEEE's formal position on this is as follows:

"The title, Engineer, and its derivatives should be reserved for those individuals whose education and experience qualify them to practice in a manner that protects public safety. Strict use of the title serves the interest of both the IEEE-USA and the public by providing a recognized designation by which those qualified to practice engineering may be identified. The education and experience needed for the title, Engineer, is evidenced by

  • Graduation with an Engineering degree from an ABET/EAC accredited program of engineering (or equivalent*), coupled with sufficient experience in the field in which the term, Engineer, is used; and/or
  • Licensure by any jurisdiction as a Professional Engineer.
  • A degree from a foreign institution (or the total education when a person holds a graduate degree in engineering but no accredited B.S. in engineering) can be evaluated through a service offered by ABET."

Despite these laws, many individuals with no formal education in engineering are still often called engineers in industry because of a long work history of engineering work. The legal situation regarding the title of "engineer" in Canada is unsettled. (See Professional Engineer for more details).

In the United Kingdom, the title of "engineer" is unregulated and is increasingly used to describe trades such as electricians, motor mechanics, gas fitters etc in addition to those engaged in professional engineering.

The word "technologist" is sometimes used synonymously as it derives from the prefix techno- and the suffix -ologist, hence, someone who studies technology. This applies particularly to those European countries with laws regulating the use of the title "engineer." However, in Britain as well as some European countries, the term "technologist" is a certification or registration that is equal to an engineer but has a different focus than design. For example, a technologist may focus on Technical Management, Manufacturing Engineering, or an Applied Engineering practices. Regulation of the Technologist title is cover by the Sydney Accord which is currently overseen by the Engineering Council of the United kingdom.

[edit] Education and training

People who work as engineers typically have an academic degree (or equivalent work experience) in one of the engineering disciplines.[3]

[edit] Engineering education in the USA

In the United States engineering degrees range from a Bachelor's degree in sciences or engineering (4 years), to a Master's in sciences or engineering (adding 1 or 2 years depending on the university), to a Doctor of Engineering which entails completing original research. Bachelor's and Master's degrees are generally recognized as sufficient qualification in the American labor market. Doctors often go on to teach in engineering schools.

Many American engineering degrees are respected worldwide, from institutions such as Cornell University, U.C. Berkeley, UVA, Stanford, Michigan, The Ohio State University, Columbia University, the University of Southern California, and U.C. San Diego which have sizable engineering schools. Institutes of technology, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Caltech, Georgia Tech, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Purdue University, specialize in engineering education.

As US universities are generally private, the education practices at each differ greatly. Certain schools, such as Columbia University, have a core course program that requires many non-engineering related classes. American engineers are generally more specialized into a certain realm of engineering, such as Civil Engineer or Electrical Engineer, than their European counterparts. The generalist degree does not exist. The respectability and status of a degree depends largely on the institution that conferred the degree.

Training and experience in the field evolve according to a scale going from the level Engineer I "Entry Level", to Engineer IV. The level II Junior, III Senior are reachable after several years of experience.

[edit] In Canada

In Canada, there are 40 institutions offering 239 engineering accredited programs delivering a Bachelor's degree after a term of 4 years. Many schools also offer graduate level degrees in the applied sciences. "Accredited" means that the engineers having successfully followed one of these programs have the possibility to obtain his licence. This a specificity of the Canadian system as the engineers need a licence to engage in the profession. Among the 40 institutions a number are renown worldwide : University of Waterloo, McGill University, University of Toronto,and McMaster University just to name a few. Graduateshotline [1]]ranks the top engineering schools in Canada. However, every university offering engineering degrees in Canada needs to be accredited by the CEAB (Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board), thus ensuring high standards are enforced at all universities.[4]

The Engineering faculties at most Canadian Universities tend to attract a wide range of student from Canada and around the world. Many international students who end up studying in these schools tend to seek residency and eventually citizenship within the country.

The procedure to obtain the licence is as follows:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.
  • Have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited Canadian institution or from a recognized foreign university or other higher institution. The Bachelor's degree delivered in Europe is not adequate since it is only a 3 year term. Thus for European engineers wishing to obtain a licence in Canada, it is better for them to consider they need a complete course including the Master's degree (2 additional years so making 5 years in total). The engineer's degree obtained from universities in Europe after completing 4 years of studies are valid.
  • Must work at least 12 months in a Canadian company (supervised by a licenced senior engineer). The term varies between provinces and can be as long as four years.
  • Be of good reputation.
  • Be fluent in English (French in Quebec, English and French in New Brunswick)

The engineer's licence is only valid in the province of delivery. There are however agreement between the associations to ease the mobility.

Public Notice: All engineers in Canada offering engineering services to the public are required to be licenced by law. Those who are not licenced must work under the supervision of the licenced engineers. Here are a few cases which show why the word engineer is reserved for licenced practitioners only. For detail, follow these links http://www.peo.on.ca/enforcement/EnforcementNotice.htm and http://www.peo.on.ca/enforcement/2003%20_PEO_Enforcement_%20Brochure.pdf Calling yourself an engineer when you are not licenced is a very dangerous thing to do. It may cause you a lot of trouble. So, know your rights and beware.

[edit] Engineers training in Europe

[edit] Britain

In the UK, like in United States and Canada, the engineers are trained in universities some of which are renowned worldwide (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College). Many engineering courses are assessed and approved by the Professional Institutions reflecting the subject covered; IMechE, IET etc.

In Britain, Engineers can study for a 4 year period on an Undergraduate Masters and obtain an MEng, this is not a 3 year undergraduate degree with an additional year, but a program that is designed from the outset to be 4 years. Some universities allow a student to opt out after 3 years and receive a bachelor's degree, and some universities award both a bachelor's and a master's degree at the end of the 4 years.

Alternatively students can receive first a baccalaureate degree (3 years of studies) followed by a 1 year Master's degree.

[edit] Germany

In Germany, the engineering degree is either delivered by Universities, Technical Universities or Fachhochschulen, a kind of university possibly best described as three-year colleges as opposed to full universities. Students receive first a baccalaureate degree (3 years of studies) followed by a Master's degree (2 years of studies) according to the principles of the Bologna declaration. The quality of German engineering expertise has long been much vaunted, especially in the field of Aerospace engineering. This is supported by the degree to which the various theories governing aerodynamics and structural mechanics are named after German scientists and engineers such as Leonhard Euler and Ludwig Prandtl.

[edit] France

In France, the engineering degree is delivered by "Grandes Ecoles" after 3 years of studies, which typically recruit students from CPGE (2 years after the baccalaureate), even though some of them include an integrated preparatory cycle. Hence engineers in France have studied a total of 5 years after the baccalaureate. To be able to deliver the diploma of "engineer", a Grande Ecole must be validated by the Commission des Titres d'Ingénieurs (Commission of the Engineering Title). It is important for the external observer to note that the system in France is extremely demanding in its entrance requirements, and much more elitist than various other systems.

[edit] The Netherlands

In the Netherlands the path to the profession of engineer has long been twofold. There exist hoger technische scholen or higher vocational technical schools, part of the hoger beroeps onderwijs or higher vocational education system, which award a vocational, practically orientated degree, and University faculties who offer an academic degree of duration five years.

It can be difficult to gauge the equivalence of the university degrees, moreover when comparing for example to the other countries listed in this article because of the differences in entrance requirements (fairly lax) level of attainment required, and workload (severe) and the flexibility afforded to the majority of students who feel or prove unable to finish the courses in nominal time, which is in turn quite extensive. Added to this, the Dutch academic year is longer than for example the Belgian, UK, or US academic years.

The vocational degrees are regularly difficult to place as many systems have no equivalent to this niche, however important it may be to the Dutch system.

The university degree confers the title ir. after (nominally) five years. The vocational degree has a title ing. after four years. An ing. may complete a one year conversion programme or schakelprogramma and then complete the 4th and 5th years of the ir. degree at a university, nowadays referred to internationally as the Master's degree, or M.Sc.

It can be inferred thus that the ing. degree plus the conversion programma may be seen as equivalent to a university B.Sc.

Institutions

The Netherlands has four universities able to award engineering degrees. Those are the 3TU group of the prestigious Delft University of Technology, the Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of Twente. The fourth, and odd-man-out as primarily an agricultural university is the Wageningen University and Research Centre.

[edit] Turkey

In Turkey, engineering degrees range from a Bachelor's Degree in engineering (for a 4 year period), to a Master's Degree (adding 2 years), and to a Doctoral Degree (usually 4 - 5 years).

Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (UCTEA) was established in 1954 and separates engineers and architects to professional branches, with the condition of being within the framework of laws and regulations and in accordance with the present conditions, requirements and possibilities and to also establishes new Chambers for the group of engineers and architects, whose professional or working areas are similar or the same.

UCTEA is maintaining its activities with its 23 Chambers, 194 branches of its Chambers and 39 Provincial Coordination Councils. Approximately, graduates of 70 related academic disciplines in engineering, architecture and city planning are members of the Chambers of UCTEA.

MEMBER CHAMBERS OF UCTEA

Chamber of Agricultural Engineers Chamber of Architects Chamber of Chemical Engineers Chamber of City Planners Chamber of Civil Engineers Chamber of Electrical Engineers Chamber of Environmental Engineers Chamber of Food Engineers Chamber of Forestry Engineers Chamber of Geophysical Engineers Chamber of Geological Engineers Chamber of Interior Architects Chamber of Landscape Architects Chamber of Marine Engineers Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Chamber of Metallurgical Engineers Chamber of Meteorological Engineers Chamber of Mining Engineers Chamber of Naval Arch's and Marine Eng's Chamber of Petroleum Engineers Chamber of Physics Engineers Chamber of Surveying Engineers Chamber of Textile Engineers

[edit] Other meanings

[edit] Operating and maintaining equipment

The term 'engineer' is also often used to describe a technician or a person that mends and operates machinery or engines.[5] In that use, it usually does not refer to a person with an academic engineering degree or an engineering license. For example, in the United States a railroad engineer denotes the operator of a locomotive, a ship's engineer denotes the operator of the steam engine on a steamship, and a stationary engineer is normally responsible for a boiler plant and/or stationary steam engine. The term "field engineer" or "customer engineer" is often used to describe manufacturers' (or third party) supplied installers and/or maintainers of (complex) equipment at a user's site.

In firefighting, the term "engineer" refers to a firefighter whose assignment is to drive the fire apparatus and, if it has an on board water supply, to remain with the engine and operate the pumps so that the firefighters using the hoses have sufficient water to extinguish the fire.

[edit] Non-academic professional certification

The term "engineer" may also be used to describe holders of some forms of professional certification other than university degrees, such as (but not limited to) Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Certified Novell Engineer, Red Hat Certified Engineer and so on.

In Canada, the usage of the term "engineer" to describe holders of professional certification is not legally permitted. The Canadian Council of Professional Engineers mounted an extended campaign to get Microsoft to renounce use of the word "engineer" in the title of their certification.[6] A 2001 reader survey by Microsoft Certified Professional magazine found that over half of respondents supported changing the name of the MCSE to remove the word "engineer".[7]

[edit] Military engineers

An army military engineer is a member of any branch of the armed forces responsible for the design and construction and also the destruction of offensive, defensive and logistical structures for warfare. This term is used in military units throughout the world and has been used since ancient times, extended in modern terms to include the laying and disarming of minefields and booby traps.

The Engineering Officer in larger ships, and the senior engineering sailor (typically a Chief Petty Officer) is called the Chief Engineer. In smaller ships without an Engineering Officer the Chief Engineer runs the engineering department. To facilitate brevity of communication in an operational shipboard environment, the Chief Engineer on United States Navy vessels is colloquially referred to and addressed as "The CHENG", or simply "CHENG".

In the British Merchant Navy, the Chief Engineer is a rank equivalent to the Senior Engineering Officer on a US ship.

[edit] See also

[edit] Lists of notable engineers by discipline

[edit] Other related lists

[edit] Licensing and registration

[edit] References

  1. ^ National Society of Professional Engineers (2006). Frequently Asked Questions About Engineering. Retrieved on 2006-09-21. Science is knowledge based on observed facts and tested truths arranged in an orderly system that can be validated and communicated to other people. Engineering is the creative application of scientific principles used to plan, build, direct, guide, manage, or work on systems to maintain and improve our daily lives.
  2. ^ a b c Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor (2006). Engineers. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
  3. ^ Degrees and Occupations in Engineering: How Much Do They Diverge? Issue Brief, NSF 99-318 December 31, 1998
  4. ^ Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board Retrieved on 15 February 2008
  5. ^ Engineer, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, retrieved on 21 December 2007
  6. ^ Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (July 2002). MCSE is NOT an Engineer in Canada!. CCPA News Release. Retrieved on 2006-05-13.
  7. ^ Schaffhauser, D.L. (August 2001). Microsoft Certified Systems Expert?. Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online. Retrieved on 2006-05-13., "Of 2,017 responses, 526 of you said, 'Don't change the name at all.' Of the 1,320 who said that only the word Engineer should change, the overwhelming majority—502 respondents—liked 'Expert' as a replacement. "

[edit] External links

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