Degree Recognition

QuantumP

Hi all.

I'm in my final year of a 3 year level 7 Energy & Environmental Engineering course. There's an option to do the 4th year to make it a level 8.

We've just been told the degree won't be recognised by Engineers Ireland. Had I known 3 years ago I would have opted for something else but that's not important now.

I'm curious how much potential employers value the recognition? If it's highly valued then doing the 4th year to make it an honours BEng seems pointless and I will look towards advanced entry elsewhere.

Any input is appreciated, thanks.

annfield1978

So the downside is that you can't become Chartered?

Gurgle

Engineers Ireland is absolutely utterly irrelevant to anyone except a civil engineer.

The 4th year to gain an honours degree is certainly worthwhile.
That makes you a graduate, up to this level you remain an undergraduate.

QuantumP

Not just Chartered, it doesn't appear to hold any accreditation.

Gurgle

QuantumP wrote: »

Not just Chartered, it doesn't appear to hold any accreditation.

Level 7 / Level 8 is the accreditation.

Engineers Ireland is just a club.

- Edit -
Are you sure its a B.A. in Energy & Environmental Engineering?

Surely its a B. Eng or B.Sc?
Where are you doing it?

Lombardo86

Gurgle wrote: »

Level 7 / Level 8 is the accreditation.

This.

I think its important to think about what you can bring to the table when you finish college.

You will leave with a level 7 qualification and i will presume be looking for a graduate / starting position with any number of companies.

I think you need to see what value you can bring to those companies (level 7) versus the level 8 qualification that thousands of others will bring.

Graduates from all the universities (regardless of 1.1, 2.1 and 2.2) will have level 8 degrees while you will not.

You are just giving people reasons not to employ you.

Stcik out the fourth year, it will be worth it long term i think by giving you a better start

QuantumP

I think I'll look into advanced entry for the 4th year elsewhere. Thanks for your advice, appreciated.

Turbulent Bill

Gurgle wrote: »

Level 7 / Level 8 is the accreditation.

I don't think that'll cut the mustard if the OP goes abroad. EI controls how Irish eng degrees are officially recognised internationally, and I'm sure they don't include non-accredited courses in this.

newmug

Gurgle wrote: »

Engineers Ireland is absolutely utterly irrelevant to anyone except a civil engineer.

Gurgle wrote: »

Level 7 / Level 8 is the accreditation.

Engineers Ireland is just a club.

I thought they were the legal qualifiers of all Irish engineering courses and titles???

longhalloween

Was there some sort of motion a while back that EI would only be recognising Masters degrees?

To the OP, everyone I've talked to regarding work after college has said that you need a good level 8 to get a decent graduate job. Some have gone so far as to say it's better to do your level 8 in a university rather than an IT, but I'm not sure how true that is.

I'm in the same boat. In third year in Dundalk. I'll definitely be going for a 4th year after this either here in DKIT or in DCU, depending on who'll take me.

nogoodnamesleft

longhalloween wrote: »

Was there some sort of motion a while back that EI would only be recognising Masters degrees?

To the OP, everyone I've talked to regarding work after college has said that you need a good level 8 to get a decent graduate job. Some have gone so far as to say it's better to do your level 8 in a university rather than an IT, but I'm not sure how true that is.

I'm in the same boat. In third year in Dundalk. I'll definitely be going for a 4th year after this either here in DKIT or in DCU, depending on who'll take me.

Was the course even accredited by the IET?

From 2012 onward an individual will not be eligible to become a chartered engineer without a masters degree from a recognized 3rd level institution.


See here:

http://www.engineersireland.ie/EngineersIreland/media/SiteMedia/services/accreditation/GuidanceNotesPost2012.pdf

godtabh

Gurgle wrote: »

Level 7 / Level 8 is the accreditation.

Engineers Ireland is just a club.

- Edit -
Are you sure its a B.A. in Energy & Environmental Engineering?

Surely its a B. Eng or B.Sc?
Where are you doing it?

Just a club? Might not be relevant to you but it is relevant to about 25000 of their members.

Engineers Ireland accreditation isnt everything. Just because you degree isnt accredited doesnt mean you cant become chartered. Takes longer but it is possible.

A massive draw back would be if you did decide to go abroad.

powpow

OP, I'd be wary of a level 8 add-on that isn't accredited by EI if you have any intention of working abroad. Although if it is a recognised level 8, then I assume it falls under the Bologna Accord.

Have you looked into the possibility of transferring to another college to complete your honors degree? The only issue with this is you may be looking at 2 years anywhere else.

QuantumP

powpow wrote: »

Have you looked into the possibility of transferring to another college to complete your honors degree? The only issue with this is you may be looking at 2 years anywhere else.

Yes, still weighing up all my options carefully but I'm definitely leaning towards that now, NUIG looks particularly tempting.

Especially if my chances working abroad are effected, I need something I can travel with. I'm on an Erasmus right now and it's definitely made me want to work outside Ireland when I'm finished!

Gurgle

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

EI controls how Irish eng degrees are officially recognised internationally

newmug wrote: »

I thought they were the legal qualifiers of all Irish engineering courses and titles???

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/colleges_and_qualifications/third_level_education_in_ireland.html

I don't know whether or if EI have some say in course requirements for a B.Eng, but I do know for certain that membership is irrelevant for an Irish qualified engineer working abroad. (except possibly civil engineers?)

godtabh wrote: »

Just a club? Might not be relevant to you but it is relevant to about 25000 of their members.

Sure, to the civil engineers amongst them.

The only reason I ever heard for any other type of engineer to join is the 10% discount Quinn Insurance used to give on motor policies.

godtabh wrote: »

Engineers Ireland accreditation isnt everything. Just because you degree isnt accredited doesnt mean you cant become chartered. Takes longer but it is possible.

A massive draw back would be if you did decide to go abroad.

What does 'chartered' mean outside of civil engineering?

- edit -
Previous thread on EI:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056327930

Turbulent Bill

Gurgle wrote: »

I don't know whether or if EI have some say in course requirements for a B.Eng, but I do know for certain that membership is irrelevant for an Irish qualified engineer working abroad. (except possibly civil engineers?)

EI is the body that sets the requirements and accredits eng degree courses here. It's also a signatory on international agreements that require other countries to recognise these qualifications, see http://www.engineersireland.ie/membership/international-agreements.aspx for example.

The accreditation is the only important thing here - personal membership of EI is irrelevant for this. You can take your degree abroad, have it properly recognised, become chartered etc. if you want to. Lots of employers (here and abroad) mightn't care about this, but IMHO the OP would be nuts to go with a non-accredited course.

I'm a mech and no fan of EI by the way, but picking a course they audit is a no-brainer.

Gurgle

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

EI is the body that sets the requirements and accredits eng degree courses here.

Are you sure about that?
(I'm not contradicting you, I don't know the answer)

From here:

Third-level qualifications

The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a system of 10 levels which allows the different standards and levels qualifications to be compared. A diagram of the NFQ is on the website of the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Third-level qualifications are Levels 6-10 in the Framework.
Award of qualifications

In the university sector the 4 awarding bodies are the National University of Ireland (UCD, UCC, UCG and Maynooth), Dublin University, Dublin City University and the University of Limerick. Quality and Qualifications Ireland is the awarding body for third-level educational institutions outside the university sector. QQI is also the awarding body for further education and training. It also awards Higher Certificates (NFQ Level 6). More detailed information is in our document on further and higher education qualifications.

Universities: The State-supported universities all award their own degrees and other awards. University students qualify with Ordinary Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 7) or Honours Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 8). Universities also offer Masters (NFQ Level 9) and Doctoral (NFQ Level 10) postgraduate degrees.

Institutes of technology (ITs): The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) makes its own awards. The other institutes of technology grant degrees, diplomas and certificates, which are validated by QQI. Students generally qualify with Higher Certificates (NFQ Level 6) or Ordinary Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 7). Honours Bachelors degrees (NFQ Level 8), Postgraduate Diplomas (NFQ Level 9) and Higher Doctorate (NFQ Level 10) are also available.

I can't find any reference to EI accreditation outside of the EI website.

Dardania

I think the legal basis is that EI (or IEI as they were known at the time) are recognised by the government as the professional body responsible for the accrediitations.. see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineers_Ireland#International

If they say it ain't a good course to be their member, you shouldn't be doing it.

mawk

Level 7 never gets accredited do they? Miei status requires a lvl 8

2011

mawk wrote: »

Level 7 never gets accredited do they?

Yes they do

Miei status requires a lvl 8

Member Candidates with a level 7,8 or 9 qualification will be eligible to apply for Membership MIEI.

cast_iron

Gurgle wrote: »

Are you sure about that?
(I'm not contradicting you, I don't know the answer)

For a start, that citizens information site is not a great source for anything. It's rare it gives the full story and I've not kept too up to date either from what I've read on it.

In any case, EI do set standards and in some way accredit degrees. I don't know the exact ins and outs of it though.
UCD got its degrees re-accredited a couple of years back, though EI did force them to makes changes to course content first (something to do with teaching ethics). I think it's every 5 years or something like that that EI re-accredit courses.

Turbulent Bill

Gurgle wrote: »

Are you sure about that?
(I'm not contradicting you, I don't know the answer)

Yes, my own course was being re-accredited by EI when I was finishing up (many moons ago!) - I remember they interviewed some of the students as part of this.

From your quote, QQI just looks like an umbrella body to validate IT courses (except those from DIT), but I've no idea whether it has any legal/professional function to check if the course content is correct. I'd imagine they'd defer to EI for that, and other professional bodies for other courses.

spideog7

Gurgle wrote: »

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/colleges_and_qualifications/third_level_education_in_ireland.html

I don't know whether or if EI have some say in course requirements for a B.Eng, but I do know for certain that membership is irrelevant for an Irish qualified engineer working abroad. (except possibly civil engineers?)


Sure, to the civil engineers amongst them.

The only reason I ever heard for any other type of engineer to join is the 10% discount Quinn Insurance used to give on motor policies.


What does 'chartered' mean outside of civil engineering?

- edit -
Previous thread on EI:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056327930

I'm not a civil engineer and I'm not a member of EI for the reasons mentioned above. However when I was applying for a H-visa to work in the US one of the requirements was to verify that my degree qualified me for the position I was applying for (and that it was a real degree). I did this by providing a copy of my actual degree from the university and showing that it was accredited by EI who were signatories to the Washington Accord and thereby validate it in the US, had my degree not been accredited by them I wouldn't have been able to prove the validity of it.

I was not a member of EI at the time and as such they refused to help me documenting this but thankfully I was able to find everything I needed online.

miss no stars

I can't believe it's even an option to go ahead with an unaccredited degree. Oh and energy and environmental engineering is far too close to being civil engineering to say that chartership will be irrelevant for him/her. I think NUIG accept level 7 grads into their level 8 course, you could also try applying to DIT to get into one of their level 8 courses at 3rd year level (Not sure what your course content is like but you could try for Civil Engineering, it's very environmental engineering-based as there's a separate structural degree). I wouldn't touch an unaccredited course with a barge pole. Why would you give people a reason to not hire you???

Gurgle

miss no stars wrote: »

I can't believe it's even an option to go ahead with an unaccredited degree....I wouldn't touch an unaccredited course with a barge pole. Why would you give people a reason to not hire you???

There isn't a single B.Sc, B.A. or anything even related to software engineering on the accredited degrees list as far as I can see.

Which goes right back to EI = Civil Engineering

godtabh

Gurgle wrote: »

There isn't a single B.Sc, B.A. or anything even related to software engineering on the accredited degrees list as far as I can see.

Which goes right back to EI = Civil Engineering

Stop your bull ****ting and get yourself to specsavers

There are 16 courses with "computer" in the degree tittle that allows you to go for CEng

a full list here

PROGRAMME ACCREDITATION VALID
From: To:
Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT)
BE Hons Civil Engineering (Note 3) Up To 2014
BEng in Polymer Engineering Up To 2003

Cork Institute of Technology (CIT)
BEng (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering (Note 3) 2012 2016
BEng (Hons) in Chemical Process Engineering 2005 2010
BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering 2004 2009
BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (Note 3) 2005 2016
BEng (Hons) in Structural Engineering (Note 3) 2005 2016
BEng in Chemical Process Engineering Up To 2004
BEng in Electronic Engineering Up To 2004
BEng in Mechanical Engineering Up To 2004
BEng in Structural Engineering Up To 2004
MEng in Structural Engineering (Note 6) 2011 2014

Dublin City University (DCU)
BEng (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering(Note 3) 2009 2013
BEng (Hons) in Computer Aided Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 2003 2007
Beng (Hons) in Digital Media Engineering(Note 3) Up To 2015
BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering (Note 3) 2005 2014
BEng (Hons) in Manufacturing Engineering with Business Studies(Note 3) 2005 2013
BEng (Hons) in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering(Note 3) Up To 2013
BEng (Hons) in Mechatronic Engineering 2005 2012
Beng (Hons) in Mechatronic Engineering(Note 3) 2008 2014
BEng (Hons) in Medical Mechanical Engineering (renamed to biomedical) Up To 2008
BEng in Electronic Engineering Up To 2004
BEng in Information and Communications Engineering (Note 3) Up To 2015
BEng in Manufacturing Engineering with Business Studies Up To 2004
BEng in Mechatronic Engineering Up To 2004
BEng in Telecommunications Engineering Up To 2004
BSc (Hons) in Computer Applications 1997 2004

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)
BE (Hons) in Computer Communications Engineering 2007 2012
BE (Hons) in Computer Engineering 2005 2006
BE (Hons) in Electrical Engineering (Part-time) 2005 2006
BE (Hons) in Electrical/Electronic Engineering (Part-time) 2005 2006
BE (Hons) in Manufacturing Engineering 2005 2010
BE in Building Services Engineering (Note 3) Up To 2015
BE in Civil Engineering (Note 3) Up To 2015
BE in Computer Engineering Up To 2004
BE in Electrical Engineering (Part-time) Up To 2004
BE in Electrical/Electronic Engineering Up To 2004
BE in Electrical/Electronic Engineering 2005 2012
BE in Electrical/Electronic Engineering (Part-time) Up To 2004
BE in Manufacturing and Design Engineering (Note 3) Up To 2015
BE in Manufacturing Engineering Up To 2004
BE in Mechanical Engineering (Note 3) Up To 2015
BE in Structural Engineering (Note 3) Up To 2015
DIT Diploma in Engineering; parallel award: BSc(Eng) (Note 4) Up To 2004
DIT Diploma in Engineering; parallel award: BSc(Eng) (Note 4) Up To 2005
DIT Diploma in Engineering; parallel award: BSc(Eng) (Note 4) Up To 2004
DIT Diploma in Engineering; parallel award: BSc(Eng) (Note 4) Up To 2005
DIT Honours Diploma in Electrical Engineering; parallel award: BSc(Eng) (Note 4) Up To 1989
DIT Honours Diploma in Electrical/Electronic Engineering; parallel award: BSc(Eng) in Electrical Engineering (Note 4) Up To 2003
ME in Pharmaceutical Process and Control Automation (Note 6) 2010 2012
ME in Sustainable Electrical Energy Systems (Note 6) 2010 2014

Institute of Technology, Carlow (ITC)
BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering Up To 2012

Institute of Technology, Sligo (ITS)
BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering 2004 2012
BEng in Civil Engineering Up To 2004

Institute of Technology, Tallaght (ITT)
BE (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (Note 3) Up To 2014
BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering 2005 2011
BEng (Hons) in Manufacturing Engineering (was BEng in Manufacturing up to 2005) 2006 2011
BEng in Manufacturing Engineering 1998 2005

National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG)
BE (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering 2004 2012
BE (Hons) in Civil Engineering (Note 3) 2004 2015
BE (Hons) in Electronic and Computer Engineering 2004 2012
BE (Hons) in Electronic Engineering 2004 2012
BE (Hons) in Environmental Engineering (Note 3) 2004 2016
BE (Hons) in Industrial Engineering Information Systems 2004 2010
BE (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering 2004 2010
BE in Biomedical Engineering Up To 2003
BE in Civil Engineering Up To 2003
BE in Electronic and Computer Engineering Up To 2003
BE in Electronic Engineering Up To 2003
BE in Environmental Engineering Up To 2003
BE in Industrial Engineering Up To 2012
BE in Industrial Engineering Information Systems Up To 2003
BE in Mechanical Engineering Up To 2003
BSc (Hons) in Information Technology 2004 2010
BSc in Information Technology Up To 2003

National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM)
BE in Communications Engineering 2004 2008
BE in Computer Engineering 2004 2008
BE in Electronic Engineering (Note 3) Up To 2013

University College Cork (UCC)
BE (Hons) in Civil Engineering (Note 3) Up To 2014
BE (Hons) in Electrical Electronic Engineering 2004 2012
BE (Hons) in Microelectronic Engineering 2004 2006
BE (Hons)in Process and Chemical Engineering 2005 2011
BE (Hons)in Process Engineering - Food Industry (combined into Process and Chemical Degree post 2006) Up To 2006
BE in Civil Engineering Up To 2003
BE in Electrical Engineering Up To 2009
BE in Food Process Engineering (combined into Process and Chemical Degree post 2002) Up To 2002

University College Dublin (UCD)
BE (Hons) in Agricultural Food Engineering 2005 2007
BE (Hons) in Biosystems Engineering (previously Agricultural Food Engineering) 2008 2010
BE (Hons) in Chemical Engineering 2005 2010
BE (Hons) in Civil Engineering (Note 3) 2005 2015
BE (Hons) in Electrical Engineering (Note 3) 2005 2015
BE (Hons) in Electronic Engineering (Note 3) 2005 2015
BE (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (Note 3) 2005 2015
BE in Agricultural Food Engineering Up To 2004
BE in Biosystems Up To 2012
BE in Chemical Engineering Up To 2004
BE in Civil Engineering Up To 2010
BE in Electrical Engineering Up To 2012
BE in Electronic Engineering Up To 2012
BE in Mechanical Engineering Up To 2004
ME in Structural Engineering with Architecture Up To 2015
MEng in Energy Systems Up To 2015

University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)
BA(Mod) in Computer Science Up To 2009
BAI in Civil Structural and Environmental Engineering Up To 2012
BAI in Computer Engineering Up To 2012
BAI in Electronic and Computer Engineering (Combined Option) Up To 2012
BAI in Electronic Engineering Up To 2012
BAI in Manufacturing Engineering* Up To 1994
BAI in Materials Engineering* Up To 1994
BAI in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Up To 2012
BAI in Mechanical Engineering Up To 2012
BAI in Microelectronic and Electrical Engineering Up To 2012
BSc Ing in Engineering with Management Up To 2012
BSc Ing in Manufacturing Engineering with Management Science* Up To 2012

University of Limerick (UL)
BE in Aeronautical Engineering 2011 2012
BE in Biomedical Engineering Up To 2011
BE in Computer Engineering 2011 2012
BE in Computer-aided Engineering Design Up To 2011
BE in Electronic Engineering (Note 3) 2011 2013
BE in Manufacturing Engineering (Note 3) 2011 2013
BE in Mechanical Engineering (Note 3) 2011 2013
BEng in Aeronautical Engineering Up To 2010
BEng in Biomedical Engineering 2006 2010
BEng in Computer Engineering Up To 2010
BEng in Computer-aided Engineering Design 2006 2010
BEng in Electronic Engineering Up To 2010
BEng in Industrial Engineering Up To 2002
BEng in Manufacturing Engineering Up To 2010
BEng in Materials Engineering* Up To 1994
BEng in Mechanical Engineering Up To 2012
BEng in Mechanical Engineering (Aeronautical)* Up To 1996
BEng in Mechanical Engineering (Materials Design)* Up To 1999
BEng in Mechanical Engineering with German 2002 2009
BEng in Production Engineering Up To 2002
BSc in Computer Systems 1997 2005

Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT)
BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering 2005 2009

Is it just me or is it more than civil engineering catered for?

Gurgle

godtabh wrote: »

Stop your bull ****ting and get yourself to specsavers

There are 16 courses with "computer" in the degree tittle that allows you to go for CEng

OK, its your favourite club.
We get it.

The word 'computer' in the title != software engineering course

And I never denied that they accepted membership fees from other branches of engineering.

I said membership is pointless for most of us.

godtabh

Gurgle wrote: »

There isn't a single B.Sc, B.A. or anything even related to software engineering on the accredited degrees list as far as I can see.

Gurgle wrote: »

The word 'computer' in the title != software engineering course

I'm not a computer expert but software is generally related to computers or am I mistaken?

Gurgle wrote: »

Which goes right back to EI = Civil Engineering

Gurgle wrote: »

I said membership is pointless for most of us.

I think I've shown that in both cases this isnt true. EI has 26k members from a variety of backgrounds. What it does show is that EI is pointless to you. So move on and stop lumping every one in with you.

godtabh

This has got off topic. The thread is about degree recognition and not the merits of EI and membership. Any more posts related to that will result in a weeks ban

petethedrummer

Gurgle wrote: »

OK, its your favourite club.
We get it.

The word 'computer' in the title != software engineering course

And I never denied that they accepted membership fees from other branches of engineering.

I said membership is pointless for most of us.

If you mean software engineer as in JAVA,C# etc.. you would do a Computer Science degree not an engineering degree. So that sort of engineer probably doesn't fall under their EI remit cos they haven't done an engineering degree.

A lot of the courses listed there (with or without computer in the title) will have programming modules, mainly lower Level languages (not easier, just lower level ). I program PLC and SCADA systems and did one of the engineering degrees listed above. It didn't have 'computer' in the title and it wasn't called software engineering but I am now a software (automation) engineer. Though not the same as a software engineer who went the BSc route. I hope that is clear.

I haven't joined EI, I have no idea what they do, but I would make it a priority to do a fully accredited degree course.

ted1

Tbh a level 7 wouldn't be held valued by most employers. You should really look at getting a level 8.
As your course has a energy content you should look at joining the energy insititute in Britian. You can become chartered with them and swop it for a Irish chartership. The energy institute is highly regarded worldwide.

I've a level 8 in electronic engineering and currently doing a level 9 part time msc in energy management. I was engineers Ireland for a few years but found that they were to focused on civil engineers and now to focused on pharma emgineers. For your discipline the energy institute would be the best option.

Darren1o1

petethedrummer wrote: »

If you mean software engineer as in JAVA,C# etc.. you would do a Computer Science degree not an engineering degree. So that sort of engineer probably doesn't fall under their EI remit cos they haven't done an engineering degree.

Untrue. At one stage Computer applications at DCU was accredited albeit not any more.
I am a biomed/mech and I used it to show equivalency internationally mainly in the US and Germany.

petethedrummer

Darren1o1 wrote: »

Untrue. At one stage Computer applications at DCU was accredited albeit not any more.

so it is true.

Darren1o1

petethedrummer wrote: »

so it is true.

Those from the years accreditation are eligible still for memberships. Who know why DCU did not continue to seek membership. There are computer science programs previously accredited and many other programs that lead to become software engineers such as computer engineering. Regardless software engineers are eligible to go through the application process to become members. I have seen application such as computational physics where C. Eng. is useful.

Sparks

petethedrummer wrote: »

If you mean software engineer as in JAVA,C# etc.. you would do a Computer Science degree not an engineering degree.

Er, not neccessarily. I did the Computer&Electronic engineering BAI degree and software engineering is what I do...

...but you probably ought to know that in the industry itself, there's a fair amount of debate about what the difference is - or even if there is one - between software engineering and programming.

Muir

You used to get accredited to be a chartered engineer with a level 8 (maybe even a level 7 I'm not sure). As of this year - eg. everyone graduating this year, you need it is being brought in that you require a masters to get chartered status. And it completely depends on the job, there are a few who will help you gain accreditation through further study etc. In some areas it matters more than others, eg in structural if you design a bridge a chartered engineer might have to sign off on it because if it collapses people could die, whereas in Electronic it's less of a big deal. This is why these new 5 year programs are being brought in.

Sparks

Muir wrote: »

if you design a bridge a chartered engineer might have to sign off on it because if it collapses people could die, whereas in Electronic it's less of a big deal

Not to make a huge deal out of it, but has everyone in the world forgotten about therac-25?

(Well, obviously too many have because we've been having therac-25's ever since, most recently over 18 months between 2008 and 2009 in the US)

And that's just the stuff that's potentially directly fatal - it might not kill you immediately, but if someone blows a billion on a software system that doesn't work and has to be abandoned, that's a billion that wasn't spent on hospitals and schools and other things that could have used the money, and that has a negative impact on everyone.

This whole idea of how it doesn't matter because it's "just computers"... yeah, not a fan of it

spideog7

Muir wrote: »

In some areas it matters more than others, eg in structural if you design a bridge a chartered engineer might have to sign off on it because if it collapses people could die, whereas in Electronic it's less of a big deal.

Sure cause something as simple a set of traffic light can't hurt anyone if they break. Or autopilot in planes, trains, ships, mining etc. Or what about a bad battery charger in a 787, surely nobody would be concerned by that :-\

Most electronics built to any stringent standards are independently stress tested for weeks on end before they're signed off on. But not everything has to meet strict standards despite how much we depend on them.

godtabh

Muir wrote: »

You used to get accredited to be a chartered engineer with a level 8 (maybe even a level 7 I'm not sure). As of this year - eg. everyone graduating this year, you need it is being brought in that you require a masters to get chartered status. And it completely depends on the job, there are a few who will help you gain accreditation through further study etc. In some areas it matters more than others, eg in structural if you design a bridge a chartered engineer might have to sign off on it because if it collapses people could die, whereas in Electronic it's less of a big deal. This is why these new 5 year programs are being brought in.

Not 100% true. If you want to go down the straight forward/simplest route then yes a level 9 is available but there is alternative routes

00MARTZ00

What other routes is there? I only ask because ill be graduating next year.
Also can you become chartered with a masters in anything? (ie business or management)
I heard its not a bad idea for an engineer to do a masters in business and/or management because most engineers end up becoming managers?

godtabh

its done on a case by case basis but its based on experience or at least thats the way it is done now

323

Darren1o1 wrote: »

I am a biomed/mech and I used it to show equivalency internationally mainly in the US and Germany.

Have had to do this a numerous times, but only for work visa requirements.

As to OP. Abroad or even inside Ireland you could be hard pressed to to find anyone who is aware of what Level 7, 8 or 9 even means.

Take it you will head to the energy industry, realistically that means abroad.
Your degree, whether 3/4 years will get you in the door.
Still amazed at the snobbery in Ireland as to having a degree.

In reality it means you have the learned some basics, have an interest and the ability to learn to do the job, little more.
How you get on from there is up to you.

Energy industries are all booming at the moment. You will learn a hell more and be a lot more useful in a few months on the job than you will learn in 1/2 more years at any university.

Accreditation to EI is pretty much irrelevant unless you are looking for chartered status in the civil engineering game in Ireland.

Sparks

323 wrote: »

Accreditation to EI is pretty much irrelevant unless you are looking for chartered status in the civil engineering game in Ireland.

...or, you know, you ever want to work anywhere where they want an accredited degree as opposed to something you bought for $100 off the internet.
I mean, that's kindof the entire point of accreditation from the point of view of students - to ensure that when they invest years of their lives and quite a chunk of cash to get a degree, that they don't then find out that it's not recognised anywhere outside the college you got it in.

I don't do civil engineering (I'm a computer engineer), but I wouldn't have gone within an ass's roar of an unaccredited course.