Accreditation of civil engineering degrees in the UK

Simon WheelerSimon Wheeler

University of Glasgow, UKUniversity of Glasgow, UK

Award of Chartered Engineer title

Award of the title of Chartered Engineer is legally in Award of the title of Chartered Engineer is legally in the power of the Engineering Councilthe power of the Engineering Council

The Engineering Council has delegated this power to The Engineering Council has delegated this power to individual engineering institutions, such as:individual engineering institutions, such as:

- Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)- Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

- Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)- Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)

- Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE)- Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE)

- Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)- Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)

- Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)- Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)

- ……….. - ………..

Grades of professional engineers

Chartered Engineer (CEng)Chartered Engineer (CEng)

Incorporated Engineer (IEng)Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

Engineering Technician (Eng Tech)Engineering Technician (Eng Tech)

Routes to Chartered Engineer status

Accredited MEng degreeAccredited MEng degree

- 3-4 years of approved training and professional experience- 3-4 years of approved training and professional experience

- Chartered professional review- Chartered professional review

Accredited BEng degreeAccredited BEng degree

- Further learning equivalent to 1 year of further study (either - Further learning equivalent to 1 year of further study (either MSc or short courses)MSc or short courses)

- Approved training and professional experience- Approved training and professional experience

- Chartered professional review- Chartered professional review

In England, Wales and N. Ireland most In England, Wales and N. Ireland most students start university aged 18-19, whereas students start university aged 18-19, whereas in Scotland most students start university aged in Scotland most students start university aged 17-1817-18

In England, Wales and N. Ireland:In England, Wales and N. Ireland: - MEng is 4 years duration- MEng is 4 years duration - BEng is 3 years duration- BEng is 3 years duration

In Scotland:In Scotland: - MEng is 5 years duration- MEng is 5 years duration - BEng is 4 years duration - BEng is 4 years duration

Some universities provide only MEng degreesSome universities provide only MEng degrees

Some universities (such as Glasgow) provide Some universities (such as Glasgow) provide both MEng and BEng degrees (MEng and both MEng and BEng degrees (MEng and BEng bifurcate prior to final year of BEng)BEng bifurcate prior to final year of BEng)

Some universities provide only BEng degrees Some universities provide only BEng degrees and degrees leading to Incorporated Engineer and degrees leading to Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status(IEng) status

For candidates wishing to gain Chartered Engineer status without an accredited degree:

Candidates with a suitable, but non-accredited Civil Candidates with a suitable, but non-accredited Civil Engineering degree from another country may have to Engineering degree from another country may have to sit all or part of the ICE Part 1 exams sit all or part of the ICE Part 1 exams

It is possible to ultimately gain CEng status without It is possible to ultimately gain CEng status without an accredited degree or sitting the Part 1 exams. But an accredited degree or sitting the Part 1 exams. But this is very difficult and very long (at least 15 years). this is very difficult and very long (at least 15 years). This route is extremely rare!This route is extremely rare!

As a consequence, MEng and BEng degrees which As a consequence, MEng and BEng degrees which fail to gain accreditation are unviable and will be fail to gain accreditation are unviable and will be terminated by their universityterminated by their university

Accreditation of MEng and BEng degrees

Accreditation is by the Joint Board of Accreditation is by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) of the Institution of Civil Moderators (JBM) of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Institution of Structural Engineers (ICE) and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)Engineers (IStructE)

The members of the JBM are appointed by the The members of the JBM are appointed by the Councils of ICE and IStructE and consist of 50% Councils of ICE and IStructE and consist of 50% academics and 50% practising civil engineers academics and 50% practising civil engineers

Accreditation takes place every 5 years (with Accreditation takes place every 5 years (with additional interim reviews if necessary)additional interim reviews if necessary)

Requirements for accreditation Suitable curriculum: must include appropriate course Suitable curriculum: must include appropriate course

in mathematics, mechanics, structures, materials, in mathematics, mechanics, structures, materials, geotechnics and water engineering, but there is no geotechnics and water engineering, but there is no national curriculumnational curriculum

Design as an integrating threadDesign as an integrating thread Incorporation of management, financial and legal Incorporation of management, financial and legal

issuesissues Incorporation of health and safety issues, risk analysis Incorporation of health and safety issues, risk analysis

and environmental and sustainability issuesand environmental and sustainability issues Development of communication skills (written, oral Development of communication skills (written, oral

and graphical)and graphical) Use of individual and group projectsUse of individual and group projects Appropriate methods and standards of assessment Appropriate methods and standards of assessment

The accreditation process

The university department submits a lengthy The university department submits a lengthy submission document following a standard formatsubmission document following a standard format

There is a 2-day visit to the university by a JBM Visit There is a 2-day visit to the university by a JBM Visit Team (2 academic members, 2 practising members, 1 Team (2 academic members, 2 practising members, 1 JBM administrator)JBM administrator)

The Visit Team submit a report recommending:The Visit Team submit a report recommending: - whether the degree should be accredited- whether the degree should be accredited - whether the accreditation should be for the full 5 - whether the accreditation should be for the full 5

yearsyears - any points of concern and any actions required by - any points of concern and any actions required by

the universitythe university The full JBM approve (normally) the The full JBM approve (normally) the

recommendations of the Visit Teamrecommendations of the Visit Team

Content of the submission document: Introduction (including aims of the degree Introduction (including aims of the degree

programme)programme) Course contentCourse content Student numbers and entry standardsStudent numbers and entry standards Teaching staffTeaching staff Professional contactsProfessional contacts Examination and assessment methods and standardsExamination and assessment methods and standards Teaching facilitiesTeaching facilities Research, consultancy and postgraduate coursesResearch, consultancy and postgraduate courses Financial situationFinancial situation Graduate employmentGraduate employment Future plans and intentionsFuture plans and intentions

The 2-day visit

Meeting with Head of Department and Director of Meeting with Head of Department and Director of TeachingTeaching

Tour of departmental facilities Tour of departmental facilities Inspection of students’ courseworkInspection of students’ coursework Meeting with studentsMeeting with students Meeting with academic staffMeeting with academic staff Meeting with teaching assistantsMeeting with teaching assistants Meeting with Industrial Advisory GroupMeeting with Industrial Advisory Group Meeting with University PrincipalMeeting with University Principal Private meeting of Visit TeamPrivate meeting of Visit Team Final meeting with Head of DepartmentFinal meeting with Head of Department