Chapter 2

The Engineering Profession

 What is Profession?
• A profession is a disciplined group of individuals who possess
special knowledge and skills in a widely recognized body of
learning derived from research and education.
• It requires academic training.
• All professions adhere to ethical standards.
• A profession is also prepared to apply this knowledge and
exercise these skills in the interest of others.
• It is regulated by professional bodies.
 What is Prof. Cont’d.
• A professional is a member of a profession.
• Professionals are governed by codes of ethics and legal
conducts.
• They profess commitment to competence, integrity, morality,
and the promotion of the public good within their expert
domain.
• Professionals are accountable to their society.
 Characteristics of a Profession
• Academic qualifications obtained from college or university.
• Expert and specialized knowledge in the field in which one is
practicing professionally.
• Excellent manual/practical experience relation to the specific
profession.
• High quality work.
• High standard of professional ethics, behavior and work
activities while carrying out one’s profession.
 Characteristics Cont’d.
• Reasonable work moral and motivation
• Intentions to work for the well-being of the larger society
• The ability to independently execute work
A professional person
Engages in activities that require special skills and
comprehensive education
Motivated by a strong desire to serve humanity
Thinks and acts in a manner that that brings favor up on the
individual and entire profession
 Elements of Professionalism
• There are several important elements of professionalism. Here
are few of them:
1. Competence
• Being efficient and capable to execute work in a given area.
• Do I have the appropriate technical (educational) and non-
technical (communication, leadership, management skills)
competences?
• Do I have relevant experience in the field?
• Do I have the relevant qualifications?
 Elements Cont’d.
2. Accountability
• Taking responsibility for a mistake and then learning from it.
• Accountability leads to reliability.
• When something goes wrong, do I immediately look for ways to
avoid blame or for ways to correct the problem?
• Do I only follow my professional obligation, or Do I take
responsibility for the public good?
• Am I committed enough to own my own mistakes?
 Elements Cont’d.
3. Humility
• Not being too proud to give or take direction and criticism from
colleagues.
•  If I am unsure how to best perform a task, do I ask for help or
plow forward?
• Do I take criticism, or do I put pride ahead of the good of the
team and the health of my career?
• Am I aware of how my work and behavior affect everyone around
me?
 Elements Cont’d.
4. Consistency
• Professionalism isn’t always smooth. Sometimes things go
sideways unexpectedly.
• Being consistent when things are working or not working is a
necessary behavior for a professional.
• Do I treat people with the same respect as I do when everything’s
working?
• Do I get too emotional?
• Do I let my emotions lead me in my decision making ?
 Elements Cont’d.
5. Teamwork
• Being a professional requires a team spirit.
• It is impossible to work alone.
• Do I give enough credit to the team I am working with?
• Do I value the potential and opinions of the team I am a part of?
• Do I let my team know how thankful I am to be a part of them?
• Do I get involved in social gatherings and activities prepared by
my team?
 Elements Cont’d.
6. Kindness
• Approaching others with patience and respect.
• Do I treat others as I would like to be treated?
7. Tidiness
• The effect of your personal choices on others extends to the
clothes you wear.
• Taking care to dress appropriately for your workplace conveys
that you respect the job and the people around you.
• Do I take time to make myself presentable?
 Engineering as a Profession
• Engineering is a career based on logical, systematic problem
solving, generally in high-tech, industrial, or scientific fields.
• Whether the result is a product, a process, a system or service,
engineers need to consider safety, reliability, aesthetics and
cost-effectiveness.
•  Engineering possesses those attributes that typically characterize
a profession.
• It satisfies an indispensable and beneficial need of the society
 Engineering as a Pro. Cont’d.
• It requires the exercise of carefulness and judgment.
• Involves activities that require knowledge and skill not
commonly possessed by the general public.
• It has a legal status and requires well-formulated standards of
admission.
• It has regards for and contributions to the public good.
• It mainly promotes social responsibility.
• It is administered by the professional community.
 Engineering as a Pro. Cont’d.
A professional engineer can be said to have the following:
• Using their knowledge and skills for the enhancement of
human welfare.
• Being honest and impartial and serving the public, their
employers and clients with fidelity in engineering service
• Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the
engineering profession
• Supporting professional and technical societies of their
disciplines.
 Ethics in Engineering Profession
• A professional is a technically sound and ethically credible
person
• Engineering has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for
all people.
• The honor of being an engineer comes with responsibility and
civil liability.
• Every engineer must have the necessary skill and expertise to
provide specific engineering services
 Ethics in Eng. Cont’d.

• Accordingly, the services provided by engineers require honesty,

impartiality, fairness, equity, and integrity.
• Dedicated to the protection of the public health, safety, and
welfare.
• Engineers must provide independent and unbiased advice,
especially when it involves the interest of the public or the
customers.
 Professional Registration

• Professional Registration is a milestone in one’s career and is

open to all engineers and technicians. 
• It demonstrates that you have reached a recognized standard of
competence and acknowledges your commitment to maintaining
that competence in the future.
• A Professional Engineer (PE) is an engineer licensed by a state
board of registration to practice engineering. 
 Professional Reg. Cont’d

• The professional registration requirement of engineers is

different in different countries.
• Some countries do not put professional registration of engineers
as a requirement to perform engineering works.
• In other countries require professional registration to practice
engineering.
• In these countries, a licensed Professional Engineer must sign off
on most public-works projects
 Professional Reg. Cont’d.

Example: Ministry of Urban Development and Construction

(MUDC) Ethiopia
Directives for the Registration of Construction Professionals and
Contractors
All Construction professionals and Contractors desiring to carry
out activity related to construction works are required to
register with the Ministry in accordance with this Directive.
No company or professional may carry out any construction
without getting certificate of competence from the Ministry.
Thank You!