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SCMP Reporter

Fresh engineering graduates will be required to have experience and training before they become competent professionals in Hong Kong's engineering sector.

  Employers are likely to look for those who possess the necessary theoretical knowledge; related skills; the right attitude; the desire to learn by experience and ability to work in a team.

   For those who want to gain the necessary experience and training, the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, provides a comprehensive training programme.

   The institution, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, brings together engineers of different disciplines, and is also a qualifying body for a range of disciplines: Building; building services; chemical; civil; control, automation and instrumentation; electrical; electronics; environmental; gas; geotechnical; manufacturing and industrial; marine; materials; mechanical; software, and structural engineering.

   It is necessary to pursue a career in one of these disciplines to be eligible for admission to the HKIE.

   Most engineering companies in Hong Kong recognise the HKIE corporate membership as the key qualification for employment as a professional engineer.

        According to the institute, 'a period of formally structured training is necessary in order that theory is fully integrated with, and reinforced by, practice, so that graduates are properly and systematically introduced to the ways of the engineering sector and get a feel for it.

    Training is a mandatory requirement for corporate membership of the HKIE. This reflects the importance it attaches to training.

   There are two routes to corporate membership. One is being registered on the HKIE Engineering Graduate Training Scheme 'A'. This is the fast route (four years minimum) from graduation to corporate membership.

   The other is the general experience route. This implies relevant work experience and/or unstructured training, considered for acceptance on a case-by-case basis. This route takes a minimum six years.

    The Scheme 'A' training is about two years for most disciplines or three years for civil, structural, geotechnical and environmental engineering trainees). Graduates should be following an training programme approved by the employer and the HKIE.

   To join Scheme 'A' graduates need to be employed by a company already approved for Scheme 'A' by the HKIE. The company must decide whether to apply to have the employee registered on Scheme 'A' or not.

    The Vocational Training Council (VTC) works closely with the HKIE and recognises Scheme 'A' trainees for subsidies purposes (over an 18 month period).

  The HKIE issues a training certificate at the end of training. This certificate carries with it the endorsement of HKIE members that the candidate has reached expected professional standards. The certificate is also recognised and accepted by overseas engineering institutions.

    There are several benefits of Scheme 'A' for graduates and their employers. Graduates have a golden opportunity to follow a systematic tailor-made graduate level training programme.

   It gives the trainees the chance to observe the company they are employed in and for the company to look at the employee with respect to a future career with the company.

    The training is internationally recognised.

   From the point of view of a company, the training scheme helps to groom their own future technical management/supervisory level staff to ensure sufficient continuity and excellence of effort.

   If the training is well structured and the graduates properly guided and 'used' they can be an important part of the company's available workforce.

  Companies have the opportunity to evaluate, for possible later employment purposes, graduates under working conditions.

   And, as trainees are in a sense 'bound' to the scheme for two years (or three) then the company is normally assured of their continuous presence and efforts for that duration.

   Scheme 'A' also encourages continuing professional development taking into account the need to continually update knowledge and skills to match technological developments.

    The scheme is not only about technical matters. The training is also related to developing leadership qualities, professionalism, ethics, codes of practice and the responsibilities of en engineer to society.

    For further details about the Scheme A training programme call the HKIE training manager at: 2895-4446, ext 26 or 17.



Graduates offered professional training