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Recognition of Engineering Qualifications and the Washington Accord (WA)
There
are many Engineering programs being conducted in Sri Lanka. However, there is
much confusion as to the level of validity of these programs. Most programs are
accredited by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Although, the UGC
accredits these programs the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) does not
automatically accredit all the UGC accredited programs. This article is an
attempt to clear some of the grey areas in the accreditation of Engineering
degrees by the IESL.
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What Engineering degrees are
accredited by IESL?
The
list of Engineering degrees that have a current valid accreditation by IESL are
provided in the, https://iesl.lk/images/pdf/accreditation/List_of_Accredited_Engineering_Degree_Programmes_revised_as_at_July_14_2020_new.pdf
It is
interesting to note that not all Engineering degrees offered by state
universities are accredited by the IESL. Also the accreditation of all degrees
have a validity period for the accreditation. Not a single degree awarded by a
private institute is accredited by the IESL.
Sri Lanka is a full signatory of the WA (Please see below 1.0). The IESL, provides automatic associate membership to graduates from WA full signatory countries subject to meeting local qualification requirements.
1. History and purpose of WA
The Washington Accord (WA) initially signed in 1989 by 6 countries (Australia, UK, USA, Canada, Ireland & New Zealand). It is an international agreement between the institutions responsible for accrediting degree programs in Engineering in the signatory countries. As at present, there are 20 full signatory countries including Sri Lanka.
The WA focuses on academic programs that address engineering training at the professional level. As per this agreement, signatories are committed to developing and acknowledging the good practices of engineering education among themselves. This association among the signatory countries is aimed at supporting globalization of engineering qualifications. Also, WA is to facilitate international mobility for those in the engineering profession. The agreement recognizes the significant similarities between engineering programs in member countries. This recognition indicates the engineering programs undertaken by graduates of the member countries meet the academic requirements for engineering in those countries, which means this agreement helps to enhance your employment opportunities in the global village.
As of now, there are twenty signatories that
have full rights of participation in the WA. Also there are seven engineering
bodies who hold provisional signatory status.
Korea, Russia, Malaysia, China,
South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Hong Kong China, Chinese
Taipei, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Japan, India, United States Turkey, United
Kingdom, Costa Rica, Pakistan and Peru.
Chile, Thailand, Bangladesh, Mexico, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.
They are recognized as having appropriate systems and processes in place to develop towards becoming a full signatory.
3.1 Sri Lanka
3.1.1 Degree holders
from a IESL accredited program will automatically get the associate membership of IESL and will be accredited by
WA. As said above, all Engineering programs in Sri Lanka are not accredited by
IESL.
Please see link below
3.1.2 Those who obtain an Engineering degree in Sri Lanka which is not accredited by IESL
should have the following
requirements to apply for the associate
membership and to get WA accreditation
ü Should have Advanced Level 2Cs, 1S passes.
ü Should be a 4 years’ Engineering degree with
equivalent credits
ü The awarding body should be recognized by UGC
AND
need to sit the exams conducted by IESL.
If the student has achieved a 1st class
degree then the student has to sit for 01 paper.
If it is a degree below a 1st class, then
the student has to sit for 02 papers.
******No of papers that you will be required
to sit will depend on the degree qualification you obtain.
3.2.1 Students who have obtained
an Engineering degree from a foreign university which has WA accreditation, and
wishes to apply for the associate membership of IESL should fulfill
the following requirements;
ü Should have Advanced Level 2Cs, 1S passes.
ü Should be a 4 years’ Engineering degree with
equivalent credits
ü The awarding university should be recognized by UGC
ü The awarding university should be recognized by
professional engineering body of their country.
Subject to meeting the above local requirements, said degree holders would automatically get IESL associate membership.
Ex: RMIT University, Australia Engineering degree is
accredited by “Engineers Australia” (Professional Engineering Body in
Australia) and it is recognized by UGC. Therefore, RMIT Engineering graduates can
apply for IESL associate membership subject to above criteria.
3.2.2 Students who have obtained an Engineering degree from a foreign university which has NOT been accredited by WA, and wishes to apply for the associate membership of IESL should fulfill the following requirements;
ü Should have Advanced Level 2Cs, 1S passes.
ü Should be a 4 years’ degree with equivalent credits
ü The awarding university should be recognized by UGC
ü The awarding university should be recognized by
professional engineering body of their country.
AND
need to sit the exams conducted by IESL
If the student has
achieved a 1st class degree then the student has to sit for 01
paper.
If it is a
general degree then the student has to sit for 02 papers.
******No of papers that you will be required to sit
will depend on the degree qualification you obtain.
Ex: ABC
University, Ukraine Engineering degree is accredited by Professional
Engineering Body in Ukraine and it is recognized by UGC. Therefore, ABC
Engineering graduates can apply for IESL associate membership by sitting for
their membership exams.
**** To get chartered membership of IESL students have to undergo minimum of 4-years work
experience under a chartered engineer accredited by IESL and sit specified exams
of the IESL as well as face a viva.
4 Advice from the Authors;
Any student undertaking a pathway program leading to an Engineering degree in a foreign country should get advice from the IESL on the eligibility for associate membership and beyond before undertaking such programs.
The
authors have received the following information from the Accreditation
Department of IESL
*
* IESL being WA Signatory in Sri Lanka has a requirement of Advanced Level 2Cs, 1S passes in Mathematics Stream (Physics, Chemistry and Combined Mathematics) to register as an Associate.
* One more important issue is that the degree program has to be within a single WA Signatory. For example, there cannot be complications such as having part of the degree program in a different WA Signatory, etc.
* For an instance a student studies at a private institute offering an engineering degree which is awarded by a university in a WA signatory country, and part of which may be completed in Sri Lanka and the remainder is completed at the above said University overseas. Would he/she be eligible for IESL associate membership?
* Would an associate member from another WA signatory country
engineering body would be eligible for IESL? For an example there are students
who have done their secondary studies in a country such as Australia where
having 2Cs 1S is not possible because they have different scoring systems in
different states and different entry criteria are offered. When such a person
completes an Engineering degree and gets elected as an associate member of
Engineers Australia would that person be eligible for IESL associate
membership?
Since there are many grey areas students should be mindful that when they select an engineering degree programme which is outside the IESL accredited degrees that there is no guarantee the student is eligible for IESL associate membership. IESL associate membership is the first step towards achieving the status of a professional engineer. Without being granted the professional engineer status he/she cannot practice as a professional engineer in Sri Lanka.
However, there are engineers
holding a diverse range of engineering qualifications. Some of these degrees
are accredited by the UGC and not by the IESL. These engineers work holding the
position of engineer in many private organisations, and have reached the
highest echelons in leading private organisations. Sadly, they will not be
considered as Professional Engineers by the IESL.
We would appreciate comments from
readers who are in the know.
Please send your comments to info@scholar.lk