Engineering New Zealand
Engineering New Zealand (ENZ; previously the New Zealand Institution of Engineers – NZIE and then Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand – IPENZ) is a not-for-profit professional body that promotes the integrity and interests of members, the profession, and the industry. It seeks to "bring engineering to life" and has more than 20,000 members.[3]
Formation | 1914 (New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers) |
---|---|
Type | Professional body |
Location |
|
Membership | over 20,000 |
President | Ben Holland[1] |
Chief executive | Susan Freeman-Greene[2] |
Staff | 60 |
Website | www |
The organisation's strategy is to deliver greater credibility, recognition, influence and connection for members. It promotes engineering as a career and advocates on behalf of members. Engineering New Zealand sets standards and performs assessments that meet international standards for Chartered Memberships and Registrations for Chartered Professional Engineers. Regional branches run networking events, while technical groups help members stay up-to-date on specific areas of expertise. Members can access continuing professional development and gain experience as volunteers by serving on committees and other bodies.
All members of Engineering New Zealand commit every year to follow the organisation's Code of Ethical Conduct, and to carrying out continuing professional development.
Organisation structure
Engineering New Zealand is governed by an elected board, chaired by the president. This board sets strategy and employs the chief executive, who manages operational activity in line with this strategy. The Engineering New Zealand office is based in Wellington. Members can belong to regional branches and also be part of technical groups that focus on specific expertise. These groups are chaired by volunteers.
History
The first professional engineering body in New Zealand, the Institute of Local Government Engineers of New Zealand, was formed in 1912. The following year the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers was formed. The two bodies merged in 1914 and were known under the later name until 1937.[4]
The organisation changed its name to The New Zealand Institution of Engineers in 1937.[5] In 1959 the Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ) was created as a consultancy division, and became a separate entity in 1970. The name Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand was adopted in 1982.[5]
In 1989, IPENZ became a founding signatory to the Washington Accord.[5]
In 2017, the organisation changed its name to Engineering New Zealand to reflect a significant shift in strategic direction, which focused on delivering greater credibility, recognition, influence and connection to members.[5]
Membership classes
On 1 October 2017, Engineering New Zealand launched a new Membership Pathway that created a professional home for engineers from all disciplines at all stages of their careers. This includes competence-based classes, which engineers complete a one-off assessment to join.
Competence-based Membership Classes
Qualification (or equivalent) | Engineering New Zealand competence-based membership class and post nominal | Assessment and eligibility for international registers |
---|---|---|
Four-year Bachelor of Engineering (BE) | Chartered Member CMEngNZ |
Assessment is aligned to international standards and focused on general engineering competence, with specific guidance for academics, senior managers and engineers working in newer disciplines International registration - IntPE/APEC Engineer - is available if a Chartered Member meets specific eligibility criteria. International Professional Engineer (IntPE) |
Three-year Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BEngTech) | Chartered Member (Engineering Technologist)
CMEngNZ (Eng. Technologist) |
Assessment is aligned to international standards and focused on general engineering technologist competence.
International registration IntET is available if a Chartered Member (Eng. Technologist) meets specific eligibility criteria. |
Two-year Diploma of Engineering (NZDE or NZCE) |
Chartered Member (Engineering Technician) CMEngNZ (Eng. Technician) |
Assessment is aligned to international standards and focused on general engineering technician competence. |
Recognised postgraduate qualification in Geology or Engineering Geology | Chartered Member (Engineering Geologist)
CMEngNZ (PEngGeol) |
Assessment is focused on general engineering technology competence. |
Other membership classes
- Student
Student membership gives opportunities to meet engineers and potential employers, connect with other engineering students and gain valuable skills as you prepare for work. Student membership is free.
- Emerging professional
Emerging Professional Members can access a development programme tailored to recent graduates, which allows them to progress to Member in 3 years. This complements programmes offered by firms who are Engineering New Zealand Professional Development Partners.
- Member (post-nominal MEngNZ)
Members have access to Engineering New Zealand resources and discounted continuing professional development.
- Fellow (post-nominal FEngNZ), Distinguished Fellow (DistFEngNZ)
A Fellow is an engineer who makes significant contributions to the engineering profession, while a Distinguished Fellow is a Fellow who makes eminent contributions to engineering and advancing the profession. Members apply to become a Fellow, while Distinguished Fellowship is by nomination only.
- Honorary Fellow
An Honorary Fellow is an exceptional person committed to supporting and advancing the fields of engineering, technology, or science. Honorary Fellowships are decided on and presented by the Board.
Competence-based registers
Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng)[9]
A Chartered Professional Engineer is a professional engineer who is registered through Engineering New Zealand, as the Registration Authority. To apply, engineers complete an assessment showing they can deal with complex engineering problems that require specialist knowledge. CPEng requires engineers to demonstrate competence in a New Zealand context and is reassessed at least every 6 years.
The Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Act (CPEng Act) was enacted on 1 July 2002 and established Engineering New Zealand as the Registration Authority to assess and then register Chartered Professional Engineers (CPEng).
International registers
Joining an international register means an engineer's competence is recognised to an international standard. It allows greater mobility around the world.
Engineering New Zealand maintains the international engineers' registers within New Zealand as part of the International Engineering Alliance (IEA).
Engineering New Zealand offers 3 international registers:
- International Professional Engineer (IntPE)/APEC Engineers Register
- International Engineering Technologist (IntET)
- International Engineering Technician (IntETn) – available in 2018
To be eligible to join an international register, an engineer needs:
- To have demonstrated competence in independent practice (as shown by Chartered Membership of Engineering New Zealand in the relevant category)
- A Washington, Sydney or Dublin Accord-accredited qualification or an equivalent level of academic achievement
- A requisite minimum period in charge of significant engineering work
- A requisite minimum period of engineering experience since graduation
- Sufficient continuing professional development to maintain the currency of knowledge and skills
Mutual recognition
- New Zealand is a signatory to the Washington Accord, the Sydney Accord, and the Dublin Accord, which recognise (respectively) professional engineering (typically four-year), engineering technology (three-year) and engineering technician (two-year) qualifications between signatories. Engineering New Zealand provides accreditation that allows for international mobility between signatory countries.[15]
See also
References
- "Our Governing Board". Engineering New Zealand. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- "Leadership Team". Engineering New Zealand. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- "Engineering New Zealand". Engineering New Zealand.nz. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- Blakeley, J (2016). "Development of engineering qualifications in New Zealand: a brief history" (PDF). Unitec Occasional and Discussion Paper Series. 1: 1–21.
- Berry, Rachel. "The evolution of Engineering New Zealand". Engineering Insight. Vol. 18/4 no. August/September 2017. Engineering New Zealand. p. 18.