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LECTURE 1:
INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERS & SOCIETY
By : Ir. Ts. Dr. Nagentrau Muniandy (REEM, CEM, P.Eng, P.Tech, Ph.D, MIEM, CPMV)
▪ Introduction to Professional Engineers and Society

▪ Professionals & Regulation

▪ Professional ethics and values

▪ Class exercise

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1. A guide on how to be a professional engineer

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2. Realize how important your role in society

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3.Target setting to be a professional engineer and contribute to society.

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4. To nurture ethical and responsible engineers for future

Corrupt engineer caught accepting bribe- dailymotion.com

Integrity Honesty

Times of India - indiatimes.com

https://wonderfulengineering.com
Well-being
Professionalism and competency
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5. To be alert on current issues in Engineering / Technology

Industry revolution Renewable energy

Energy efficiency Sustainable development

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Professional Engineers

Society
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 Profession Professional Professionalism

▪ A term commonly used upon a job that requires specialized educational

training and the application of specialized knowledge in a field, subject or
science
▪ Professional activity involves systematic knowledge and proficiency
▪ It is legally recognized
▪ Professionalism involves a group of people who adhere to ethical
standards, proficient and always uphold good name of the profession

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✓ The skill is based on theoretical knowledge
✓ Existence of professional body
✓ Requires extensive period of education (up to tertiary level)
✓ The competency is tested through prescribed exams.
✓ Institutionalized training and continuous upgrading of skills (CPD)
✓ Practitioners licensed with work autonomy

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✓ Code of professional conduct / ethics
✓ Self regulating and independent from government
✓ Elements of public service and altruism
✓ Control of fees and advertising
✓ High social status and reward
✓ Offer reassurance to client
✓ Inaccessibility and indeterminacy of knowledge which some can only
be acquired through experience

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 WHO ARE THE
PROFESSIONALS???

TRADITIONAL
MODERN INTERPRETATION
INTERPRETATION
A member of a profession
who:
“Someone who is
competent and derives
1) Governs by codes of
their income from that
ethics.
specific talent
2) Profess commitment to
(expertise)”
competence, morality,
integrity and altruism.
3) Promote public good in
their expert domain.
4) Accountable in service
✓ Group of people who possess and adhere to
and protect public
ethical standards
interest.
✓ Require specific education and training in the
field of expertise (Source: Professional Standards Council, Australia)

✓ Special skills and knowledge recognized by

government and society
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▪ Usage of prefix or post fix on the name
▪ Example:
▪ Prefix “Ir.” or post fix PEng or CEng for professional engineers
“Dr.” for doctors.
“Sr.” for quantity surveyors
“Ts.” for Professional Technologist.
“Ar.” for Professional Architect
“TPr.” for Professional Town Planner

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 a) b)

The Venn diagrams of engineers and society, a) Engineering as applied science for societies need and b)
Engineering knowledge domain in contribution to society . (Adapted from S.P. Nichols and W.F. Weldon in
“Professional Responsibility: The role on engineering in society”).

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 Respect for life, law
Responsible
Accuracy & Rigour Honesty & Integrity &
leadership
public good

๏ Competent ๏ Prevent corrupt ๏ Ensure work is lawful ๏ Aware of society issue

๏ Keep knowledge up To practices professional
& justified on engineering &
date misconduct
๏ No misled on ๏ Reject ๏ Minimize & justify any technology.
adverse effect on ๏ Understand the impact
engineering bribery/improper of technology
society or natural
knowledge influence achievement.
resources
๏ No bias in eng. ๏ Reliable & trustworthy ๏ Alert of safety & health ๏ Making statement
judgement manner under professional
issues.
capacity

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 Chartered Engineers develop solutions to engineering problems using new
or existing technologies, through innovation, creativity and change and/or
they may have technical accountability for complex systems with significant
levels of risk.

Optimize the application of technology

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Analysis of solution and engineering problems

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A chartered engineer
must be able to
demonstrate 3 Technical & commercial leadership
5 competencies
4 Effective communication skills

5 Commitment to professional standards

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▪ Professionals are a group of people who are competent in specific field and
acting according to the code of conducts.
▪ Regulation defines the boundary of action for professionals.
What is regulation??
✓ Any measure implemented under government authority that acts to control the
behaviour of individuals or groups that come within the ambit of that authority
✓ Any ‘rule’ endorsed by government where there is an expectation of compliance

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 Fit for
purpose

What makes a
regulation a
better
regulation???
No
unnecessary
burden to
Achieve the business,
desired goal civil society
organization
or wider
society

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Regulation/rules can be enforced through the “source of power” delegated by
national legislation
Types of main legislation
❑Primary
i. ACTS OF PARLIAMENT – Federal level
ii. ENACTMENTS – State level
iii. ORDINANCE (for SABAH and SARAWAK)

❑Secondary (subsidiary law)

▪ Subsidiary legislation means any proclamation, rule, regulation, order, resolution,
notice, rule of court, bylaw or other instrument made under or by virtue of any
Ordinance and having legislative effect. It is subject to the approval of the Council,
which may be given through either the positive procedure or the negative procedure.
▪ Issued by the authority which appointed by the legislative power
▪ The delegation of power shall be made through the parent act and has legal
implication.

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▪ REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS ACT 1967 (2015) >>>> (Primary legislation)
▪ REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS REGULATION 1990 (REVISED 2015). >>>>> Secondary
legislation
▪ BEM CIRCULAR NO 001: CODE OF CONDUCT OF REGISTERED PERSON
*And other circulars and guidelines as stipulated by BEM. Please refer to
(http://www.bem.org.my/web/guest/bem1)

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What is ethics??
▪ Set of principles which perceived to be morally rightful action
▪ Key concept: Determination of MORALLY right or wrong
▪ Ethics can be influenced and changed overtime depends on the societal
norms or condition of a country.
▪ Professional ethics concerns on the moral issues originated from the
specialist knowledge from professionals which need to be governed to
protect public interest

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What about values? what are they?
It refers to standard of behavior/principles which reflect to a
person’s perception to right of wrong.
Some basic values for professionals:
❑Internal values: Honesty, legality, respect privacy, quality driven
and team player.
❑External values: Avoid conflict of interest, Cultural sensitivity,
social responsibility and continuous professional growth.

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 ETHICAL

Illegal Legal
but not and
unethical ethical

ILLEGAL LEGAL
Illegal Legal
and not and
ethical unethical

UNETHICAL 24
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 Preliminary Q&A session on PES

According to Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), A

professional engineer is a person registered under
section 10(2) of the registration of engineers Act
1967 (Revised 2015)

How to get registered to be a professional

engineer?

You need to undergo the process

Graduate in Registered as Complete 1 of the 3
accredited graduate routes identified by
engineering engineer BEM
program
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Who is a graduate engineer? Is it compulsory
to be registered as a graduate engineer?

• A graduate engineer is a person registered under section 10(1) of the

registration of engineers Act 1967 (Revised 2015).

• According to Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), It is compulsory for a

university graduate to register as a graduate engineer if she/he wants to
take up employment which require him/her to perform professional
engineering services.

How to recognise if a person is a PE?? Is

there any way to check a person PE status?

• A PE use the abbreviation Ir. before and/or P.Eng after his/her name.

Example: Ir. Ts. Dr. Nagentrau Muniandy (REEM, CEM, P.Eng, P.Tech, Ph.D, MIEM, CPMV)

• PE status can be checked through BEM website

http://www.bem.org.my/web/guest/home
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▪ Engineering in Society, 2nd edition, Royal Academy of
Engineering, Edited by Rob Lawlor
(https://www.raeng.org.uk/publications/reports/engineering-in-society)

▪ BEM guidelines and circulars

http://www.bem.org.my/web/guest/bem1

▪ Research paper: A responsibilities of engineers by J. Smith,

P.Gardoni and C.Murphy, 2014
(http://faculty.las.illinois.edu/colleenm/Articles/smith%20et%20al%20Resp%20of%20Engineers%2
0(JSEE).pdf)

▪ Professional responsibillities: The role of engineering in society

by S.P.Nichols and W.F. Weldon. (http://www.me.utexas.edu/~srdesign/paper/)

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 HAMMURABI CODE
• The Code of Hammurabi was one of the earliest and most complete written legal
codes and was proclaimed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi, who reigned from
1792 to 1750 B.C.
• There are 282 code of law in Hammurabi code. Refer to
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/ancient/hamframe.asp

• Poor engineering
design
• Ethics

Can u spot any regulation related to engineers??

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https://youtu.be/t6JzGlR2TfE
▪ Engineering body: Quick fact on role and responsibility of:
I) BEM
II) IEM
III) EAC
▪ Route to become professional engineer in Malaysia
▪ Registered member practice

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1. Maintain the details of registration .

2. Process application for registration - PAE,PCE.

3. Assessment of academic qualification - through EAC and ETAC.

4. Regulate the conduct of ethics of the engineering profession.

5. Disputes on professional conduct and ethics

6. Fix the scale of fees

7. Stakeholders in contract for professional engineer services (by request).

8. Publication - The Ingenieur

9. Promotion of continued learning and education-through IEM

*Referred to http://www.bem.org.my 36
 THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS
MALAYSIA (IEM)
• IEM is a main professional learned society (Non-government organization) of engineering in Malaysia which
established in 1959
• The primary role is to promote and advance the science and profession of engineering in any or all of its
disciplines, and to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas related to engineering.
• Type of membership in IEM
No Membership type Post-fix

1 Distinguished Honorary Fellow D.Hon. F.I.E.M.

2 Honorary Fellow Hon. F.I.E.M.

3 Fellow F.I.E.M.

4 Distinguished Member D.M.I.E.M.

5 Honorary Member Hon. M.I.E.M.

6 Senior Member S.M.I.E.M.

7 Member M.I.E.M.

8 Companion C.I.E.M.

9 Graduate Member Grad I.E.M.

10 Incorporated Member Inc. I.E.M.

Referred to https://www.myiem.org.my
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Establish networking groups amongst engineers.
Attend Technical Talks, Seminars or Courses and Technical Visits.
Attend Professional Development Program (PDP) – logbook scheme
(Engineering Competence Development: ECD)

Route to Professional Engineers.

Attend Continuing Professional Development (CPD)- discount price for trainings
/ free

Referred to https://www.myiem.org.my
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➢ The Engineering Council is the UK regulatory body for the engineering profession.
➢ Hold the national registers of over 222,000 members in Engineering profession
➢ Category of registration:
1. Technicians (EngTech)

2. Incorporated Engineers (IEng)

3. Chartered Engineers (CEng)

4. Communications Technology Technicians (ICTTech).

Referred to https://www.engc.org.uk 39
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is a UK based learned institution
since 1847 with 120,000 members in 140 countries

Strategic objective of IMechE:

1. Develop engineers – become the leading institution for professional
registration, provide world class produce and services to engineers.
2. Promote engineering
3. Be a trusted advisor about engineering to employers, government, academic
bodies and other institutions
4. Encourage innovation, research and entrepreneurship.

Types of membership
✓ Engineering Technician (EngTech)
✓ Incorporated Engineers (IEng)
✓ Affiliate member
✓ Associate member (AMIMechE)
✓ Chartered Engineer (CEng) – equivalent to professional engineer
✓ Fellow (FIMechE) 40
A. Optimise the application of technology
(Use a combination of general and specialist engineering knowledge and understanding to
optimise the application of existing and emerging technology)

B. Analysis and solution of engineering problems

(Apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of
engineering problems)

C. Provide technical and commercial leadership

(Project planning, implementation, leading position, quality management knowledge)

D. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills

(English, proposal presentation, personal and social skill)

E. Commitment to professional standards

(Demonstrate a personal commitment to professional standards, obligation to society, profession
and environment)

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The Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) is a delegated body by the Board of Engineers Malaysia
(BEM) as the only recognised accrediting body for engineering degree programmes offered in Malaysia.

Membership of the EAC comprises five (5) stakeholders:

1. The Board of Engineers (BEM) (5-6 representatives)

2. The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) (5-6 representatives)

3. Industry Employers (3-4 representatives)

4. Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) (1 representative)

5. the Public Service Department (JPA) (1 representative)

On June 2009, BEM was accepted as the 13th signatory of the Washington Accord. EAC was instrumental
in ensuring Malaysia accredited engineering programmes are substantially equivalent to the engineering
degrees of the signatories of Washington Accord
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• Washington Accord, as a part of The International Engineering Alliance (IEA) is a multi-
lateral agreement between bodies responsible for accreditation or recognition of tertiary-
level engineering qualifications within their jurisdictions.
• Assisting towards the mobility of professional engineers.
• WA members involve in the development and recognition of good practice in
engineering education. The Washington Accord is specifically focused on academic
programmes which deal with the practice of engineering at the professional level.
• The Accord acknowledges that accreditation of engineering academic programmes is a key
foundation for the practice of engineering at the professional level in each of the countries or
territories covered by the Accord.
• The Accord outlines the mutual recognition, between the participating bodies, of accredited
engineering degree programmes. It also establishes and benchmarks the standard for
professional engineering education across those bodies..
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(ADAPTED FROM IEA)

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(ADAPTED FROM IEA)

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• All graduate engineers MUST REGISTER with the BEM to practice engineering in Malaysia. It is
an offence to practice engineering in Malaysia without registering with the BEM as a graduate
engineer or PE !!
• EAC accredited engineering degree is the pre-requisite for registration for Graduate engineer
or PE
• Accreditation provides the assurance for BEM and the stakeholders that engineering graduate
have the necessary skills and competencies reflected in the graduate outcomes specified by the
EAC accreditation manual (The attainment of PEO, PO, LO through OUTCOME-BASED
EDUCATION)
• The public service (JPA) ONLY allow graduates from EAC accredited programmes/recognized
by EAC to join public service.
• ONLY program accredited by the EAC would be allowed to be offered at the IHL in Malaysia
(public or private)
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Adapted from BEM

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Adapted from Engineering Council UK
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Adapted from IEM
▪ Professional Engineer Professional Engineer with
practicing certificate
▪ (PE) (PEPC)

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ADAPTED FROM: THE EXPLANATORY NOTES TO LATEST AMENDMENTS TO THE REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS ACT 1967

& THE REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS REGULATIONS 1990 , 2nd edition 52

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▪ Please read further on below topics

▪ A) Circular 001-Code of Conduct of registered engineer

▪ B) Other signatories besides Washington Accord under IEA

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REFLECTION……..
How do you feel about being a
future professional engineers
now ????
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