When UKM drops its M

That’s quite a struggle when you want to be accredited as a Chartered Engineer in the UK but holds a Malaysian engineering degree. That’s what I realised recently when I was making attempts to be a “professionally qualified” engineer in this country.

It’s not that it will make a huge difference in status or that it’s valued when I go home. But since I’m here, I might as well work towards something that is valued here.

Then again, I found myself caught in a logistical quagmire - going in circles and trying to clear a path through the dense forest with no clear directions. There are like hundreds of lines of explanation and things to remember in order to get to point B from A, but every time when I feel like I’m getting somewhere, there are obstacles. It’s like one of those Indiana Jones treasure hunt experience – it’s in front of you but you have to wade through scorpions!

At some point I wished I were a Singaporean or a citizen in any of the Washington Accord signatory countries. Their engineering schools are first of all, accredited by the engineering institutes here and secondly, their professional qualifications are convertible into a UK one! Recognition is not only confined to engineering qualifications but also other qualifications like driving.

So what if Malaysian engineering degrees are not accredited overseas?

Not a lot if you aren’t thinking of progressing to be a Chartered Engineer or anything more than just being employed. But if you are, there’re a few steps extra and every stage of progression is £££. That means it can be “costly” without accreditation.

I did find myself disadvantaged and peeved in some ways. Our entire engineering education system is based on the British systems. We have good researches happening at home. It’s understandable if the US demands some form of topping up courses because of the irregularity of standards between two countries. But not being recognised by the country that we based our engineering standards from is just strange. It seems wrong too!

Okay, though I must admit we used AASHTO and the ASTM in some areas. But that’s because they appear to be more robust and sound in areas where the BS-es aren’t.

I want to blame someone but I do not know who. Sometimes I blame our government for not doing enough. I can’t help but think, “why aren’t we bloody signed up to the Washington Accord??!! What’s stopping us??” Then I would concede that we may not measure up to international standards after all? We have too much to do with existing undergraduates who are not meeting industries’ expectations. So, that’s like asking a toddler to run before knowing how to walk.

Sometimes I blame myself for not doing my undergraduate overseas. The thought of turning down a scholarship to study in Singapore highlights one of the bad decisions in life. Or why don’t I just blame the UK institutions for being such a snob, right?



Wrong.

I think the reason is multiple and complicated. Perhaps the question is: Is it really important getting into the Accord and trying to be known by the signatory countries? Why should we when the rest of the hundred over countries aren’t? Why the UK? Why not Japan? Why not Germany? After all, these countries are also known for their engineering prowess worldwide.

I have stopped passing the buck. In fact, I don’t think there is a buck to pass. Complaining isn’t going to solve problems. Making the first move is.