While at first glance engineering in the United States and England may seem completely different, comparison illustrates a few of the many parallels.
The Engineering Technician (EngTech)
The lowest level of accredited engineers in Britain; an EngTech is required to have practical knowledge of engineering which is usually acquired through a professional review following an apprenticeship and minimal schooling. The training an EngTech receives is similar to that of an individual in a trade school in the United States. To be admitted to a trade school one must pass a simple aptitude test, which if they pass will be placed on a list to receive an apprenticeship. Once they begin their apprenticeship they become a journeyman and with more experience they can become foremen or supervisors.
The Incorporated Engineer (IEng)
The mid-level accredited engineer in Britain; the IEng needs three years of academic study and traditionally five years of experience before they can apply for a membership from an engineering institution. This is most synonymous with an engineering bachelor or master degree with internships and a year or two of engineering practice. Engineering students in the United States generally receive four to six years of schooling to obtain their bachelor or masters degree, which means that an IEng in the United States would have around 5 years of schooling and two years of experience.
The Chartered Engineer (CEng)
The highest level of accredited engineers in Britain, the CEng, needs four years of schooling two years of directed work experience and three years of experience as a self-sufficient member or leader of a team. The British CEng is similar to an individual with a PhD and some field experience or an individual with a masters degree and years of practical experience.
The compared levels all require similar years of preparation with Britain emphasizing more work experience and the United States emphasizing more schooling. This is not all that different because while many American universities have a significant amount of theory, they also have a fair amount of practicality woven into their requirements. In addition, many universities focus on practical experience (i.e. Cal Poly). Another similarity is the amount of regulations each country places on their engineers. Britain is more public with their control; they have SARTOR published, and require all engineers to have professional reviews in order to be accredited. In America, ABET accreditation and work reviews provide similar control with more gray area. Additionally engineering in Britain and America is viewed strictly as “a professional, white-collar occupation” (Smith & Whalley). While these similarities may seem somewhat strong, they do not overcome the cultural biases of these countries. An American with little or no higher education and many years of experience will find it hard to progress in the engineering workforce due to his/her lack of schooling while similarly a British engineer with extensive schooling and little experience will find it hard to move up until they acquire more experience. This is very representative of George Page’s comment of the “British view that an engineer is formed out of the sum of their experiences, not just the initial training they received” (Page).
I find it interesting that the EngTech level is considered in Britain to be a legitimate level of engineering whereas in the US it would be hard to be taken seriously as an engineer with anything less than a bachelor's degree. I have even heard jokes about referring to what we would considered unqualified positions as 'engineering' (e.g. garbage collectors being referred to as 'sanitation engineers'). Even though one could draw relevant similarities between an engineer's and a technician's roles with regard to technology, there is still a big gap in their level of education which is a huge divider in our society.
ReplyDeleteBut one can understand how in a culture where experience is more highly regarded than education a technician can be more closely associated with engineering. Technicians can finish school quickly and start on their 'real' education. While in the field, they will see many of the same problems and have similar general knowledge to engineers. Also, this level of engineering seems to fit the more traditional British view of engineers. Of course, modern engineers are expected to have a much deeper understanding, so it is natural that multiple these multiple levels would arise.