UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
(OP)
Engineering suffers from an image problem. People believe that engineers simply fix things, but we don't: we invent things. Unfortunately the false image is propagated by hundreds of companies out there who term repair-persons and equipment installers 'Engineers'. Engineering suffers from a lack of graduates, and at a time people are looking to manufacturing to fix the economy we need all the graduates we can get. Sadly they are put off by the false image of engineering. It is thus proposed that the title 'Engineer' is protected legally, like 'Doctor' or 'Architect'. It would be restricted to those who are professional engineers or product designers, or those who have retired from the industry.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/6271
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/6271





RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
Protect the profession from usurpation of our image and good name.
Good luck.
ps...you must be a UK citizen or resident to sign the petition...I tried.
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
thread731-180126: UK Engineers Petition Downing Street
thread730-181246: Protect the status of "Engineer" in the UK
Surely before bothering with a petition for legislation, some agreement should be reached on 'what is an engineer' or 'who gets to use the title engineer' etc., which based on the recurring threads on this site isn't something most of us can agree on.
Oh, and as an ex-pat in the US, I wouldn't look toward the system here as the panacea of who does or doesn't get to be called and engineer and when etc.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
Is it?
The title Professional Engineer is protected in Canada. As far as I can tell, Microsoft is still appointing people Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers, in spite of complaints from the Canadian Council for Professional Engineers.
Try this Google search. Most of the links at the top are from 2002.
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
One of us is clearly putting the horse before the cart, I'm just not entirely sure which.
As to not graduating enough engineers (and before Molten pitches in
Plus, if I put my self interest first, maybe reducing supply of new grads is good if it results in demand supporting higher wages for those of us already graduated - just saying.
Don't get me wrong, it can be frustrating to say you're an engineer only to have people assume you fix cars or appliances or drive a train, however almost every proposed definition of who gets to be called an engineer that I've seen tends to be a bit too restrictive - even a couple that would have allowed me to be called one.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
What you need is the qualification and license to practice medicine.
I think in most places engineering is the same. A train driver can call himself an engineer, but he needs a license to specify structural components in buildings or structures.
Regards
Pat
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RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
Personally I would sign the UK's petition if I was eligible. I think it's a good idea.
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
Are we seriously contemplating have the GOVERNMENT police chase down every person or company spuriously or correctly using the term engineer? Do we not have better things to spend our tax dollars on, like REAL crime?
TTFN
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RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
I only get miffed when there is a choice of occupations on some form, which includes a "professionals" category, but that doesn't even give the option of engineer. And of course I NEVER use that term when getting a motor insurance quote as it carries a premium (blue collar worker, likely to modify his vehicle and be a risk). I usually say "computer programmer" or "software engineer". I even used "acoustic consultant" once, which was technically true at the time, but not what was on my business cards.
- Steve
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
- Steve
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
Just putting on a yellow raincoat and putting up with it gets old after a while. Maybe it's time we collectively acted to secure a more appropriate position or status in society.
That's what MBAs seem to be able to do...
Not that I am in any way bitter...
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
- Steve
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
Regards,
SNORGY.
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
Designer of machine tools - user of modified screws
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
Frankly the title doesn't bother me - I'm more interested in the fact that they get paid significantly than us, and part of the reason for that is because they run a 'closed shop'.
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RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
My guess is that the spread is pretty wide for both professions and that an engineer in the very highest bracket is making substantially less than a lawyer in their very highest bracket. On the other hand an engineer in the lowest bracket is probably making a lot more than a lawyer in their lowest bracket.
As a "profession" I've never felt like I was substantially underpaid, and I've seen new-hires out of school start at well over the average at new-hire.com.
Medical doctors on the other hand seem to be doing ok, but I REALLY don't want some guy that is disgruntled about his compensation making life and death decisions about my medical care. I want them to be very happy with their compensation.
David
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
What has been most evident from all those I have participated in is that they are really designed for politicians to practise making excuses for not doing what everyone thinks they should be doing.
It doesn't matter if it is membership of Europe, Climate Change or anything else.
But if anyone can point to any e-petitions that actually achieved a result, please let me know.
This is the UK, not Switzerland.
In Switzerland once a certain number to signatures have been received, the government must hold a referendum on the issue and in the terms declared in the petition and it must abide by the result and it is not allowed to come back to it for a minimum period of time.
But good luck with it anyway.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
Similarly many of these organisations provide training, so again it is in the organisations interests to increase the amount of ongoing PDH, and restrict their definition.
It isn't a conspiracy, but it isn't pretty.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
Funny, my insurance agent told me I could get a discount (Professional Worker's) if I sent her a copy of my degree.
Must be a California thing.
RE: UK Government E-petition: Make 'Engineer' a protected title
One year my insurer decided I was a 'draughtsman' which was as close as they could come to 'design engineer'. Got a great rate that year - must be a low risk group.
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!