PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW

PREPARATION WORKSHOP

CODE OF ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS

PRESENTED BY
ENG. JULIUS RIUNGU
CHAIRMAN, TRAINING COMMITTEE
 WHAT IS ENGINEERING?-1
• Engineering is the science, discipline, art
and profession of acquiring and applying
technical, scientific and mathematical
knowledge to design and implement
materials, structures, machines, devices,
systems, and processes that safely realize
a desired objective or inventions.
Wikipedia
 WHAT IS ENGINEERING?-2
• Engineering is the creative application of
scientific principles to design or develop
structures, machines, apparatus, or
manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them
singly or in combination; or to construct or
operate the same with full cognizance of their
design; or to forecast their behaviour under
specific operating conditions; all as respects an
intended function, economics of operation and
safety to life and property.
The American Engineers’ Council for
Professional Development
 WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY? -1
• Technology is often used as the generic
term to encompass all the technologies
people develop and use in their lives.
UNESCO, the United Nations Education,
Social and Cultural Organisation, has
provided the following definition :
 WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY? -2
• Technology is the know-how and creative
processes that may assist people to utilise
tools, resources and systems to solve
problems and to enhance control over the
natural and made environment in an
endeavour to improve the human
condition. (UNESCO, 1985).
 WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY? -3
• Thus technology in this statement involves the
purposeful application of knowledge, experience
and resources to create processes and products
that meet human needs. The needs and wants
of people in particular communities determine
the technology that is developed and how it is
applied. People judge the desirability of
technological applications by their impact on
health, personal well – being and lifestyle,
economies and ecosystems.
 WHO IS AN ENGINEER?
• An Engineer is that person who is by virtue
of training, able to harness the resources
of nature for the benefit of society
• Those licensed to practise Engineering
may have more formal designations such
as Professional Engineer, Chartered
Engineer, Incorporated Engineer, or
European Engineer.
 CONTINUOUS LEARNING FOR
ENGINEERS
• Engineers apply the sciences of physics and
mathematics to find suitable solutions to
problems or to make improvements to the status
quo.
• Engineers are required to have knowledge of
relevant sciences for their design projects.
• As a result , they keep on learning new material
throughout their career.
• If multiple options exist, engineers weigh
different design choices on their merits and
choose the solution that best matches the
requirements.
 ENGINEERS AS
PROFESSIONALS
• Engineers use their knowledge of science,
mathematics and appropriate experience
to find suitable solutions to a problem.
• Engineers typically as professionals take
seriously their responsibility to produce
designs that will perform as expected and
will not cause unintended harm to the
public at large
 ENGINEERING IN A SOCIAL
CONTEXT
• By its very nature, engineering is bound up with
society and human behaviour.
• Every product or construction used by modern
society will have been influenced by engineering
design.
• Engineering design is a very powerful tool to
make changes to environment, society and
economies, and its application brings with it a
great responsibility.
• As a result many Engineering Institutions have
established codes of practice and code of ethics
to guide members and inform the public at large.
ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
• Scientists study the world as it is; engineers
create the world that has never been.
-Theodore Von Karman
• There exists an overlap between sciences and
engineering practice.
• In engineering, one applies science. Both areas
rely on accurate observation of materials and
phenomena. Both use mathematics and
classification criteria to analyze and
communicate observations.
ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
• Fung et al states that:- “Engineering is quite different
from science. Scientists try to understand nature.
Engineers try to make that do not exist in nature.
Engineers stress invention. To embody an invention the
engineer must put his idea in concrete terms, and design
something that people can use. Almost all engineers
working on new designs find that they do not have all the
needed information. Most often , they are limited by
insufficient scientific knowledge. they study mathematics,
physics, chemistry, biology and mechanics. Often they
have to add to the sciences relevant to their profession.
Thus engineering sciences are born”
 WELFARE OF ENGINEERS-1
• World all over, the welfare of engineers
are taken care of by Engineering
Institutions.
• In Kenya, The Institution of Engineers of
Kenya looks after the welfare of all the
Engineers in Kenya.
• The country Institutions join together to
form Regional Institutions.
 WELFARE OF ENGINEERS-2
• IEK has joined the Eastern Africa
Institutions to form The Federation of
Eastern Africa Engineering Organizations
(FEAEO)
• The Regional Institutions join together to
form the Continental Institution. FEAEO
has joined with others to form The
Federation of African Engineering
Organizations (FAEO)
WELFARE OF ENGINEERS- 3
• The continental Institutions join together to
form the World Federation of Engineering
Organizations (WFEO)
 CODE OF ETHICS-1
• Ethics is generally understood as the
discipline or field of study dealing with
moral duty or obligation
• This typically gives rise to a set of
governing principles or values which in
turn are used to judge the appropriateness
of particular conducts or behaviours.
 CODE OF ETHICS-2
• These principles are usually presented
either as:-
1.broad guiding principles of an
idealistic or inspirational nature, OR
2. as a detailed and specific set of rules
couched in legalistic or imperative terms to
make them more enforceable
 CODE OF ETHICS-3
• In engineering profession,we have opted for
the first alternative.
• We have espoused sets of underlying
principles as codes of professional ethics
which form the basis and framework for
responsible professional practice
• Arising from this context, professional codes
of ethics have, sometimes been incorrectly
interpreted as a set of “RULES”
 CODE OF ETHICS-4
• of conduct intended for passive
observance
• A more appropriate use by practicing
professionals is to interpret the essence of
the underlying principles within their daily
decision-making situations in a dynamic
manner, responsive to the need of the
situation.
 CODE OF ETHICS-5
• As a consequence , a code of professional
ethics is more than a minimum standard of
conduct, rather, it is a set of principles
which should guide professionals in their
daily work.
• Issues regarding the environment and
sustainable development know no
geographical boundaries
 CODE OF ETHICS-6
• The Engineers and citizens of all nations
should know and respect the
Environmental Ethic
 CODE OF ETHICS FOR
ENGINEERS IN KENYA-1
• The code is based on broad principles of
truth, honesty and trustworthiness, respect
for human life and welfare, fairness,
openness,competence and accountability
 CODE OF ETHICS FOR
ENGINEERS IN KENYA-2
• The society expects the engineer to have
acquired scientific and technological knowledge
which he is able to apply in solving a problem
facing the society.
• In doing so, the engineer is expected to be
guided by the principles of safety and economics
• It is important for engineers in Kenya to have a
code of ethics on the basis of which an engineer
can be evaluated and be defended.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Engineers should uphold and advance the integrity,
honour and dignity of the engineering profession by:-
i. using their knowledge and skill for the
enhancement of human welfare;
ii. being honest and impartial, and serving with fidelity
the public, their employers and clients;
iii. Striving to increase the competence and prestige
of the engineering profession; and
iv. Supporting the professional and technical
societies of their disciplines
THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS-1
• Engineers shall hold paramount the safety ,
health and welfare of the public in the
performance of their professional duties.
• Engineers shall perform services only in the
areas of their competence
• Engineers shall issue public statements only in
an objective and truthful manner
• Engineers shall act in professional matters for
each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest
THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS-2
• Engineers shall build their professional
reputation on the merit of their services and shall
not compete unfairly with others
• Engineers shall act in such a manner as to
uphold and enhance the honour, integrity and
dignity of the profession
• Engineers shall continue their professional
development throughout their careers and shall
provide opportunities for the professional
development of those engineers under their
supervision
 RULES OF PRACTICE-1
1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, Health
and welfare of the public in the performance of their
professional duties.
2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas
of their recognised competence.
a. Engineers shall underetake assignments only
when qualified by education or experience in the
specific technical fields involved.
b. Engineers shall not affix their signatures to any
plans or documents dealing with subject matter in
which they are not competent.
 RULES OF PRACTICE-2
3.Engineers shall issue public statements
only in an objective and truthful manner.
4.Engineers shall act in professional
matters for each employer or client as
faithful agents or trustees.
5. Engineers shall avoid improper
solicitation of professional employment.
PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS-
1
1. Engineers shall be guided in all their professional
relations y the highest standards of integrity.
2. Engineers shall at all times strive to serve the public
interest.
3. Engineers shall avoid all conduct or practice which is
likely to discredit the profession or deceive the public.
4. Engineers shall not disclose confidential information
concerning the business affairs or technical processes
of any present or former client or employer without his
consent.
PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS-
2
5.Engineers shall not be influenced in their
professional duties by conflicting interests.
6.Engineers shall uphold the principle of
appropriate and adequate compensation for
those engaged in engineering work.
7.Engineers shall not compete unfairly with other
engineers by attempting to obtain employment
or professional engagements by taking
advantage of a position, or by criticizing other
engineers, or by other improper or questionable
methods.
PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS-
3
8. Engineers shall not attempt to injure, maliciously
or falsely, directly or indirectly, the professional
reputation, prospects, practice or employment of
other engineers.
They should not indiscriminately criticize other
engineers ’work.
Engineers who believe others are guilty of
unethical or illegal practice shall present such
information to the proper authority for action.
 PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS-
4
9.Engineers shall accept personal
responsibility for all professional activities
under their charge.
10.Engineers shall give credit for
engineering work of those to whom credit
is due, and will recognize the proprietary
interests of others.
 CONCLUSION
• Engineers and scientists make up less than 5%
of the population but create up to 50% of the
GDP
• Engineering is a well respected profession. For
example, in Canada it ranks as one of the
public’s most trusted professions.
• Once registered, you will carry a prefix Eng.
before your name.
• The question is, Will your behaviour and actions
carry the respect bestowed upon Engineers?
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION
READY FOR QUESTIONS