Careers Forum

I am interested in the subject of global mobility as I have recently received overseas job offers. I can see the Institute of Engineers Ireland value UK ECUK Qualifications. I know there recognition agreements.

Faith

Faith,

An excellent question. I have also been considering this question for some time. Many highly Skilled and Proffessional people have moved to other countries for many reasons: work, money, opportunities in life etc. But how do the qualifications, training and ECUK registration stack up in other countries? ie Canada, USA, Australia etc. I'm sure there are members who have made the move abroad and come up against various obstacles in getting jobs, VISA's, permits, etc because our systems don't tie up with their's. With the shortage of Engineers globaly surely you would think their would be some harmonisation of standards? Does any of our members have experiences of applying for and getting jobs abroad?

Best Regards

Dave Bates

Hi,

Yes, recognition of qualifications in other countries is fraught with paper work and time wasting. I know!!!

However if your an EU citizen its easier these days as the EU directive 2005/36/EC covers EU nationals working in the EU in regard to professional qualifications, their website is quite informative :

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/index_en.htm

There’s also a couple of EU associated federations such as FEAN which professional engineers use for EUR ING registration. (far to grand for an EngTec like me)

I have from my own experience been run round in circles many a time. Lucky for me most companies and national bodies look kindly on UK qualifications which has saved me so much hassle over the years.
At the end of the day if you have a sponsor and there investing in the country its amazing how paperwork can be cut. !!!!


Regards

Paul

Peter,

It sounds like you have some experience of working in the US and Canada. I have had a look at the US, Canadian and Australian VISA application systems. In my opinion the Canadian and Australian systems seemed the fairest and simplest. I also thought that they were "User Friendly" and that the simple points scoring systems would encourage good skilled people to apply for jobs in those countries. I spent alot of time in the US, Australia and particularly Canada in my younger days. I have relations in the US and one sister in Australia and another about to go. For all those people thinking of going don't let the red tape stand in your way. It is a big commitment, do not underestimate that. But if you want to try go ahead and Good Luck to you all.

Best Regards

Dave Bates

This is a most interesting question and one which i have been trying to answer for the past 10 years. I am Eng Tech, MIRTE,MsoE with City and Guild full tech. I am currently working for a vehicle importer in Greece as a Trainer and Hi Tech problem solver. Has anyone ANY idea what these qualifications translate to in Greece?

Deon,

Thats a tough question. I would have thought that if Greece was in the EU there would be a direct relation between British standards to EU standards to Greek standards. Or maybe all are one standard just the translation makes them different??? This sounds like a question for Ian Chisholm at the SOE Headquarters. I will send him an E-mail.

Best Regards

Dave Bates

Dave, Greece is in the EU, where it suits her to be. Where it does not suit, she is not. If you could make some enquiries with Chris,that would be a huge help. Can´t thank you enough. Deon

Deon,

Just sent another E-mail to see what progress headquarters have made.

Best regards

Dave Bates

Just had an E-mail from Ian. He is on the case and will let us know when he has some information.

Best Regards

Dave Bates

Dave, that´s great. Thank you both very much indeed.

Deon

Nothing from Ian yet. Don't think he is having much luck. I will contact him again this week and see what he says.

Best Regards

Dave Bates

Dave, good morning. Has there been any progress made at all? I understand it must be extremely difficult to get any joy from these people.

Hello All
Ian has asked me to reply to this thread about the recognition of qualifications. I believe that there are two separate issues here.

1. The recognition of qualifications by countries other than those in which the qualification was obtained (EU and Worldwide).

2. The recognition of Engineering Council (ECUK) professional registration outside the UK.

Taking point 1
If an employer does not recognise a qualification then a letter of comparability may be obtained form the UK National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC)
http://www.naric.org.uk

In the case of desiring recognition in a country other than the UK there are various other agencies around the world who offer a similar service, a list of which is available at: http://www.naric.org.uk/index.asp?page=25

Other useful services for the recognition of qualifications within Europe are:
The certificate of experience: http://www.certex.org.uk
europass: http://www.uknec.org.uk

In relation to the specific example of Greece, DIKATSA (the organisation listed on the NARIC website) deals with degrees and ITE deals with vocational qualifications, the contact details of ITE are:

I.T.E. (Institute for technical education)
Leoforos Sygrou 56
GR - 11742 Athini
Phone: (30) 1 - 9221000
Fax: (30) 1 - 9227716
Contact: Prof. Dr. Th. PAPATHEODOSSION

Hopefully this organisation is still in existence as I believe there has been a downsizing of the Greek civil service recently.

Taking point 2
The ECUK has a number of mutual recognition agreements with various engineering bodies across the world, these generally recognise CEng and IEng registrants. There are also international registers that an engineer can apply to join. More information is available here: http://www.engc.org.uk/international

The registration of EurIng has been mentioned previously, this is something that the SOE offers and Chartered Engineers who are interested in this should contact registration@soe.org.uk for further information.

I hope the above information is useful to everyone.

Paul Bayly
SOE Professional Standards Manager

Paul,

Many Thanks for your comprehensive response. I'm sure this will help answer many questions that members have regarding Proffessional Standards in differant countries.

Best regards

Dave Bates

Dave and Paul. That is a really comprehensive response to a seemingly simple question. I cannot thank you both enough for the invaluable informatiion contained herein.
Respects
Deon.

Hello All

I was pleasantly impressed today to learn that a thread I initiated with no one responding for about a year later attracted much response .I have gone through the entire discussion and gleaned valuable information. I am currently working with a global leading company in the energy/oil and gas industry(Africa and Middle East Region) I have seen the recognition of the ECUK Qualifications grow. ECUK Qualifications are highly valued in Africa and will continue. There have been cases where there is some comflict with Qualifications with the ECUK requiring an higher qualification standards eg an Integrated MEng degree for CEng, while it is a First Degree for the rest of the World! The HND holder will need a top-up to get to IEng but the Engineering Technologist perceived as IEng Equivalent, worldwide will not need a top-up Qualification to do so.

In my opinion although I cannot see any other institution with more committment to supporting the career of the Engineer worldwide, it is clear that the ECUK has set very superior standards to attaining Professional status. This should win the admiration and approval of other institutions. Thanks for keeping this thread alive. With regards, Faith

Dave and Paul, good morning to you both.Just an update out of respect for the time and energy you both spent in assisting me through this rats maze. Twould appear that ECUK and Eng Tech although at home mean quite alot. Don't mean that much here in Greece.They seem to have their own set of rules.Eng Tech here means nothing more than a glorified car mechanic....Very disappointing indeed. Once again,may i thank you both very much for the time and effort you have given to this subject.
Kind respects
Deon.

Deon,
Its always the way, you think your onto a good thing only to find out that its not worth the paper its written on in another country!!
Reminds me of an ex-colleague from the US who thought my old City and Guilds Certificate was like having a degree from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). I think it was the Coat-of-arms that impressed him!!!. - I never did correct his misinterpretation....

Saying that I'm luckier here, EngTech = Ingeniero Tecnico = Technical Engineer... now that was a spot of luck which one day I might correct,,,, there again maybe I won't!!!
:-)

Paul, that made me laugh my socks off. Cheers matey, needed that !!

Dear All,

This is an interesting discussion. Governments, Higher Education Establishments and Institutions have got diferrent standards but most countries have got Engineering Councils which are the regulatory bodies for the profession and professionals in Engineering. In Africa particularly, all the 3 EC-UK professional levels are highly recognised and respected! Most of the Engineering councils of governments would have a link which points to International qualifications and their recognitions in those governments. Whether one is an EU citizen or not, EC-UK qualifications are highly respected Worldover. I also would encourage friends holding EC-UK papers to positively deliver exceptionally in their various roles as delivery is what should be/is regarded as a justification or key performance indicator or grading of a person's skill, education and capability. Iam on Linkedin (search my name and surname) if one would like to see my different roles played in my career.

I guess this comment helps someone.

Gracious Banda LCGI EngTech (IEng-pending) MIPlantE AMICMEESA

[Edited: 29th Oct 2009, 11:15:35]