Preparing for a Successful Engineering Career Dr Sam

Preparing for a Successful Engineering Career Dr Sam Man Keong (岑文强) CEng, FIET, FSIET(F) Honorary Secretary Singapore Institute of Engineering Technologists Email: sammk 1951@gmail. com Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 1

“Engineering : The Career Field That Improves Our Quality of Life. ” Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 2

Highlights • About the Speaker – Dr Sam Man Keong • Reasons for choosing an Engineering Career. • What Should You Study Before Going to College? • How to choose a College? • How to Manage Your Engineering Career while in College? Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 3

Highlights • Beyond the Undergraduate Degree – Work or Graduate School? • Professional Licensing. – Licensing Requirements – Tips for Meeting the Licensing Requirements. • Additional Sources of Information. • Q & A. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 4

About the Speaker : Sam Man Keong (岑文强) • A Self-directed Lifelong Learner for more than 40 years. • Have gone through both nontraditional & traditional education routes. • Chartered Engineer • • (UK/Ireland/Australia) Chartered Builder(UK) Chartered Environmentalist (UK) Chartered Mathematician(UK) Chartered Scientist(UK). Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 5

Reasons for choosing an Engineering Career • • • 1. Change the world. 2. Be creative. 3. Work with great people. 4. Make a difference. 5. Never be bored. 6. Make a big salary. 7. Solve problems. 8. Travel. 9. Enjoy job flexibility. 10. Love your work and love your life, too! Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 6

What does it take to do so and how can you get there? Engineering is built on math and science, so it is important to take as much math and science as possible. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 7

What Should You Study Before Going to College? • Mathematics and Science – Mathematics : Algebra; Geometry; Trigonometry; Calculus. – Science : Biology; Chemistry; Physics • English, social studies, and foreign languages. • Computer, economics, history and public speaking courses. • Extracurricular activities. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 8

How to choose a College? • Websites and catalogs ; OPEN House • Entrance requirements • Engineering majors and specialties offered • Cost of tuition, fees, and room and board…. books, travel to/from school, entertainment expenses, and other day-today costs. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 9

Engineering Education in Singapore Level of Training Universities/ Polytechnics/Colleges Professional Engineers [BEng – 4 year full-time] National University of Singapore (NUS); Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Engineering Technologists [Diploma – 3 year full-time] Polytechnics : SP; NP; TP; NYP; RP Engineering Technicians [Higher Nitec – 2 year Full-time] ITE Colleges : East; West; Central Tradesmen/ Craftsmen Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 10

National University of Singapore Faculty of Engineering, NUS Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 11

Nanyang Technological University Administration Building, NTU Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 12

Polytechnics in Singapore Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 13

ITE Colleges in Singapore Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 14

How to Manage Your Engineering Career while in College? • Your career in engineering will not start when you leave college. It will actually start while you are an undergraduate student. • It is not an irreversible step, but it is a step!. • Bachelor’s degree programs in engineering : 4 or 5 years to complete. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 15

How to Manage Your Engineering Career while in College? • First 2 Years : Mathematics and the physical sciences with introductory engineering courses. • Last 2 years : Major + ‘technical electives’ + ‘free electives’. • Engineering Experience : Internships; Summer Jobs. • Is it Accredited ? – Singapore : www. peb. gov. sg ; www. ies. org. sg – USA : www. abet. org Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 16

Minimum outcomes…(ABET): students should have the ability to: • 1. Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering. • 2. Design and conduct experiments as well as analyze and interpret data. • 3. Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints, including economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health, safety, manufacturability, and sustainability. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 17

Minimum outcomes…(ABET): students should have the ability to: • 4. Function on a multidisciplinary teams. • 5. Identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems. • 6. Understand take professional and ethical responsibility. • 7. Communicate effectively. • 8. Comprehend the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 18

Minimum outcomes…(ABET): students should have the ability to: • 9. Recognize the need for lifelong learning. • 10. Engage in activities that further learning. • 11. Stay attuned to contemporary issues. • 12. Use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 19

Beyond the Undergraduate Degree – Work or Graduate School? • Career Options after the Bachelor’s degree in engineering: – – – – – Industry Business Consulting Marketing Management Government Research University Teaching Military Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 20

Beyond the Undergraduate Degree – Work or Graduate School? • Graduate School – Master’s and doctorate degrees in engineering – Graduate degrees in business or management – Law school – Medical school Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 21

Professional Licensing • Engineers who become registered or licensed are known as “professional engineers. ” • P. E. – A level of commitment to the profession – Highly valued in a number of industries and engineering disciplines – Provides credibility to clients and to customers Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 22

Benefits of becoming a P. E. (USA- NCEES) • 1. Promotability. • 2. High Salaries. • 3. The P. E. Title. : Professional engineers can sign and seal documents submitted to a client or public authority and legally represent themselves to the public as “professional engineers. ” • 4. Career Advantages : Only P. E. s are eligible to work legally as engineering consultants. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 23

Professional Licensing - Licensing Requirements (USA) • Stage 1 : Graduation from an ABET-EAC engineering program. (EAC = Engineering Accreditation Commission. ) • Stage 2 : Passage of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. This is an engineering and science fundamentals test. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 24

Professional Licensing - Licensing Requirements (USA) • Stage 3 : Passage of the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. This is a test of knowledge in a specific branch of engineering (i. e. , Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, etc). The PE exam tests the engineer’s ability to apply engineering principles and judgment to professional problems. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 25

PE in Singapore - Requirements • 1. Appropriate qualifications – Section 15(1); • 2. Appropriate experience – Section 15(2)(a); • 3. Sat and passed prescribed examinations – Section 15(2)(b); • 4. Good character and reputation – Section 15(4)(a); and • 5. Able to carry out the duties of a professional engineer effectively – Section 15(4)(b). Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 26

Pathways to become Professional Engineer in Singapore Approved Qualifications, e. g. BEng from NUS/NTU PEB – PE Exam PEB – FE Exam . Report on Postgraduate Engineering Experience . Summary of Postgraduate Professional Experience . Professional Interview (PI) Experience Professional Engineer (PE) Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 27

Pathways to become a PE in Malaysia Working adults in Engineering with at least 2 STPM/GCE(A) passes in Mathematics and/or Science subjects IEM/BEM – Graduate Examination An Approved Qualification, e. g. BE from University of Malaya BEM – Graduate Engineer Report on Training & Experience BEM - PAE Professional Engineer (PE) Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 28

Professional Licensing (USA)Tips for Meeting the Licensing Requirements. • 1. Attend a college or university with programs approved by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. [websites: www. abet. org ; www. peb. gov. sg ] • 2. Took the FE exam before graduation. – Open-book test – Two 4 -hour periods. – Morning : comprehension and knowledge as well as evaluation, analysis, and application. – Afternoon: composed of problems sets from seven subject areas (statics; dynamics; mechanics of materials; fluid mechanics; electrical theory; economic analysis. ) Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 29

Professional Licensing (USA)Tips for Meeting the Licensing Requirements. • 3. Fulfilling your state’s requirements for years of professional experience. [Most states require four years of acceptable progressive experience. ] • 4. To pass the PE Exam. – Test your in-depth knowledge of a specific field of engineering. Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 30

Additional Sources of Information • USA: – www. abet. org – www. ncees. org – www. nspe. org • United Kingdom: – www. engc. org. uk – www. professionalengineers-uk. org Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 31

Additional Sources of Information • Singapore: – www. peb. gov. sg – www. ies. org. sg – www. siet. org. sg • Malaysia: – www. bem. org. my – www. iem. org. my – www. tam. com. my Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 32

Questions & Answers Thank You The CPD to Success: C: Courage 勇气 ; 胆量 P: Patience 忍耐 ; 耐性 ; Perseverance 毅力 ; 恒心 D: Determination 决心 ; 意志 Preparing -Engineering Career 2013 33