Preparing for a Successful Engineering Career

Preparing -Engineering Career - 2013

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Preparing for a Successful

Engineering CareerDr Sam Man Keong ( 岑文强 )

CEng, FIET, FSIET(F)Honorary Secretary

Singapore Institute of Engineering TechnologistsEmail: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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“Engineering :

The Career Field That Improves Our Quality of Life.”


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Highlights

• About the Speaker – Dr Sam Man Keong

• Reasons for choosing an Engineering Career.

• What Should You Study Before Going to College?

• How to choose a College?

• How to Manage Your Engineering Career while in College?


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Highlights

• Beyond the Undergraduate Degree – Work or Graduate School?

• Professional Licensing.– Licensing Requirements– Tips for Meeting the Licensing Requirements.

• Additional Sources of Information.

• Q & A.


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About the Speaker : Sam Man Keong ( 岑文强 )

• A Self-directed Lifelong Learner for more than 40 years.

• Have gone through both non-traditional & traditional education routes.

• Chartered Engineer (UK/Ireland/Australia)

• Chartered Builder(UK)• Chartered Environmentalist

(UK)• Chartered Mathematician(UK)• Chartered Scientist(UK).


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Reasons for choosing an Engineering Career

• 1. Change the world.• 2. Be creative.• 3. Work with great people.• 4. Make a difference.• 5. Never be bored.• 6. Make a big salary.• 7. Solve problems.• 8. Travel.• 9. Enjoy job flexibility.• 10. Love your work and love your life, too!


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What does it take to do so

and how can you get there?

Engineering is built on math and science,

so it is important to take as much math and science as possible.


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What Should You Study Before Going to College?

• Mathematics and Science– Mathematics : Algebra; Geometry;

Trigonometry; Calculus.– Science : Biology; Chemistry; Physics

• English, social studies, and foreign languages.

• Computer, economics, history and public speaking courses.

• Extracurricular activities.


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How to choose a College?

• Websites and catalogs ; OPEN House

• Entrance requirements

• Engineering majors and specialties offered

• Cost of tuition, fees, and room and board….books, travel to/from school, entertainment expenses, and other day-to-day costs.


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Engineering Education in Singapore

Level of Training Universities/

Polytechnics/CollegesProfessional Engineers

[BEng – 4 year full-time]

National University of Singapore (NUS);

Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Engineering Technologists

[Diploma – 3 year full-time]

Polytechnics : SP; NP; TP; NYP; RP

Engineering Technicians

[Higher Nitec – 2 year Full-time]

ITE Colleges : East; West; Central

Tradesmen/ Craftsmen


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National University of Singapore

Faculty of Engineering, NUS


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Nanyang Technological University

Administration Building, NTU


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Polytechnics in Singapore


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ITE Colleges in Singapore


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How to Manage Your Engineering Career while in College?

• Your career in engineering will not start when you leave college. It will actually start while you are an undergraduate student.

• It is not an irreversible step, but it is a step!.

• Bachelor’s degree programs in engineering : 4 or 5 years to complete.


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How to Manage Your Engineering Career while in College?

• First 2 Years : Mathematics and the physical sciences with introductory engineering courses.

• Last 2 years : Major + ‘technical electives’ + ‘free electives’.

• Engineering Experience : Internships; Summer Jobs.

• Is it Accredited ?– Singapore : www.peb.gov.sg ; www.ies.org.sg – USA : www.abet.org

http://www.peb.gov.sg/

http://www.ies.org.sg/

http://www.abet.org/


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Minimum outcomes…(ABET): students should have the ability to:

• 1. Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.

• 2. Design and conduct experiments as well as analyze and interpret data.

• 3. Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints, including economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health, safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.


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• 4. Function on a multidisciplinary teams.• 5. Identify, formulate, and solve

engineering problems.• 6. Understand and take professional and

ethical responsibility.• 7. Communicate effectively.• 8. Comprehend the impact of engineering

solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.


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• 9. Recognize the need for lifelong learning.

• 10. Engage in activities that further learning.

• 11. Stay attuned to contemporary issues.

• 12. Use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.


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Beyond the Undergraduate Degree – Work or Graduate School?

• Career Options after the Bachelor’s degree in engineering:– Industry– Business– Consulting– Marketing– Management– Government– Research– University Teaching– Military


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Beyond the Undergraduate Degree – Work or Graduate School?

• Graduate School– Master’s and doctorate degrees in

engineering– Graduate degrees in business or

management– Law school– Medical school


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Professional Licensing

• Engineers who become registered or licensed are known as “professional engineers.”

• P.E.– A level of commitment to the profession– Highly valued in a number of industries and

engineering disciplines– Provides credibility to clients and to

customers


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Benefits of becoming a P.E. (USA- NCEES)

• 1. Promotability.• 2. High Salaries.• 3. The P.E. Title. : Professional engineers can

sign and seal documents submitted to a client or public authority and legally represent themselves to the public as “professional engineers.”

• 4. Career Advantages : Only P.E.s are eligible to work legally as engineering consultants.


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Professional Licensing - Licensing Requirements (USA)

• Stage 1 : Graduation from an ABET-EAC engineering program. (EAC = Engineering Accreditation Commission.)

• Stage 2 : Passage of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. This is an engineering and science fundamentals test.


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Professional Licensing - Licensing Requirements (USA)

• Stage 3 : Passage of the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. This is a test of knowledge in a specific branch of engineering (i.e., Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, etc). The PE exam tests the engineer’s ability to apply engineering principles and judgment to professional problems.


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PE in Singapore - Requirements

• 1. Appropriate qualifications – Section 15(1);• 2. Appropriate experience – Section 15(2)(a);• 3. Sat and passed prescribed examinations – Section

15(2)(b);• 4. Good character and reputation – Section 15(4)

(a); and• 5. Able to carry out the duties of a professional

engineer effectively – Section 15(4)(b).


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Pathways to become Professional Engineer in Singapore

Approved Qualifications, e.g. BEng from NUS/NTU

PEB – FE Exam

Experience

PEB – PE Exam

. Summary of Postgraduate Professional Experience

. Report on Postgraduate Engineering Experience

. Professional Interview (PI)

Professional Engineer (PE)


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Pathways to become a PE in Malaysia

Working adults in Engineering with at least 2 STPM/GCE(A) passes in Mathematics and/or Science subjects

IEM/BEM – Graduate

Examination

Report on Training & Experience

BEM - PAE Professional Engineer (PE)

An Approved Qualification, e.g. BE from University of Malaya

BEM – Graduate Engineer


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Professional Licensing (USA)- Tips for Meeting the Licensing Requirements.

• 1. Attend a college or university with programs approved by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. [websites: www.abet.org ; www.peb.gov.sg ]

• 2. Took the FE exam before graduation.– Open-book test– Two 4-hour periods.– Morning : comprehension and knowledge as well as evaluation,

analysis, and application.– Afternoon: composed of problems sets from seven subject

areas (statics; dynamics; mechanics of materials; fluid mechanics; electrical theory; economic analysis.)




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Professional Licensing (USA)- Tips for Meeting the Licensing Requirements.

• 3. Fulfilling your state’s requirements for years of professional experience. [Most states require four years of acceptable progressive experience.]

• 4. To pass the PE Exam.– Test your in-depth knowledge of a specific

field of engineering.


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Additional Sources of Information

• USA:– www.abet.org – www.ncees.org – www.nspe.org

• United Kingdom:– www.engc.org.uk – www.professionalengineers-uk.org


http://www.ncees.org/

http://www.nspe.org/

http://www.engc.org.uk/

http://www.professionalengineers-uk.org/


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Additional Sources of Information

• Singapore:– www.peb.gov.sg – www.ies.org.sg – www.siet.org.sg

• Malaysia:– www.bem.org.my– www.iem.org.my– www.tam.com.my


http://www.ies.org.sg/

http://www.siet.org.sg/

http://www.bem.org.my/

http://www.iem.org.my/

http://www.tam.com.my/


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Questions & Answers

Thank YouThank You

The CPD to Success: C : Courage 勇气 ; 胆量P : Patience 忍耐 ; 耐性 ; Perseverance 毅力 ; 恒心D : Determination 决心 ; 意志

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Preparing for a Successful Engineering Career