Membership and registration
Are you seeking a meaningful volunteer opportunity where you can contribute to the engineering community?
The Professional Development Standards Committee seeks dedicated volunteers to help set and maintain the highest standards for Initial Professional Development towards Institution membership and professional registration. Your valuable input will not only shape the future of our profession but also provide crucial guidance to organisations navigating professional development programmes for engineers.
The Professional Development Standards Committee (PDSC) plays a crucial role in the engineering community by setting and maintaining the Institution’s standards for Initial Professional Development. Its responsibility extends to ensuring that the training provided by IMechE accredited companies to Developing Engineers is both monitored and credible, following a structured program agreed upon by all stakeholders. This is primarily achieved through the accreditation process.
Under the auspices of the Institution, the PDSC conducts accreditation assessments of organisations that implement the Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS). These assessments are supported by a dedicated group of assessors who act as accreditation visit Panel Chairs.
About you
You must be a member of the Institution, professionally registered at CEng or IEng, be familiar with HR and Learning and Development principles, UK-SPEC, the IMechE Code of Conduct Values and Behaviours, have strong interpersonal and customer focussed skills and be willing to become familiar with other policy and process documentation. Experience in providing constructive feedback to others is essential.
What you will do
As a committee member, you will:
- Be expected to attend and actively participate in quarterly PDSC meetings
- Undergo training to become an Accreditation Panel Chair, and subsequently chair MPDS Accreditation visits with support from a Professional Development Consultant
- Utilise your expertise and knowledge industry knowledge and if relevant, involvement in the operation of accredited schemes
- Contribute to the assessment of organisations engineering programmes in a credible way against a UK benchmark standard - The UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment (UK-SPEC)
- Represent the IMechE and the engineering community
- Facilitate the sharing of best practices within the industry
- Attend annual training conducted either virtually or at IMechE HQ as deemed necessary
- Keep up to date with the latest Engineering Council and IMechE accreditation policies
- Participate in ad hoc working groups where appropriate to examine and make recommendations on particular areas of business
- Vote on accreditation decisions
How you will benefit
- Learn best practice.
- Broaden professional horizons.
- Meet people from and develop relationships with, companies, industries, countries, and professional institutions that you would not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.
- Contributes towards your CPD requirements.
How much time it will take
PDSC meetings are held four (4) times per year and committee members are expected to attend and actively participate in at least 75% of these per calendar year. Meetings may be held virtually or face-to-face.
Committee members will serve for a five (5) year term with the possibility of serving a second term of up to five (5) years at the discretion of the Chair.
Committee members are expected to chair a minimum of two (2) MPDS accreditation visits per calendar year.
How it works
Begin attending Committee meets immediately and complete your Accreditation Panel Chair training within 12 months which includes:
- Observing a minimum of two company MPDS Accreditation visits (conducted either virtually or In-Person)
- Being observed by an experienced Accreditation Panel Chair, carrying out a further MPDS Accreditation visit
- Attend a formal training session conducted either virtually or at IMechE HQ
After completing training, attend a minimum of two MPDS Accreditation (virtual or face to face) visits per year to companies as a proficient Accreditation Panel Chair, along with associated preparation and follow-up work which will be completed remotely.