|
Important
Notes :-
In this context any
reference to the term "graduates", "graduate trainees",
"Engineering Graduate Training Scheme 'A' trainees", or "Graduate
Members" or the like are referring to those "Graduate Members
of the HKIE who meet the academic requirements for Member in a Discipline."
|
The HKIE considers that the qualities required by a
Professional Engineer can best be developed and attained by graduates
who have thoroughly integrated their theoretical knowledge with the practical
skills required to apply that knowledge. The purpose of the Scheme "A"
Training is to provide registered graduate trainees with the opportunity
to achieve this necessary reinforcement of theory with practice.
The overall aim of Scheme "A" Training is
based on the need to foster the development in trainees of those qualities
perceived to be those required by a Professional Engineer covering:-
|
(a)
|
Technical Competence
|
|
(b)
|
Managerial & Leadership Abilities
|
|
(c)
|
Business Communication Skills
|
|
(d)
|
Ethical & Professional Matters
|
|
(e)
|
Social Awareness
|
The implicit concept in this aim is to ensure that
in later life the young engineer can undertake engineering projects with
the proper regard for the technical, economic, financial, environmental
and social factors involved.
By the end of their training trainees should have acquired
a clear understanding of :-
|
(a)
|
The importance of adhering to the HKIE's Rules
of Conduct and their meaning in relation to the trainees' everyday
work;
|
|
(b)
|
The need to make appropriate provision in every
engineering project to ensure safety and reliability; and environmental
factors;
|
|
(c)
|
Their responsibilities to their employer, their
colleagues, other engineers and the community at large;
|
|
(d)
|
The importance and relevance of their theoretical
knowledge to the design, manufacture, construction, operation and
maintenance of the particular products or services with which the
employing organisation is concerned;
|
|
(e)
|
| The general problems affecting an
industrial organisation, such as the:- |
|
-
|
Financial, economic, commercial and statutory
limitations;
|
|
-
|
Limitations imposed by the workforce, machines
and the materials available;
|
|
-
|
Operation and maintenance requirements
that may affect engineering decisions;
|
|
|
(f)
|
The vital importance of good industrial relations;
|
|
(g)
|
The need to understand the point of view of
others and to promote good personal relationship at all levels within
an organisation;
|
|
(h)
|
The importance of communication, and of being
able to discuss inter-related activities and problems with members
in other branches of engineering;
|
|
(i)
|
The need to exercise sound judgement and to
accept responsibility;
|
|
(j)
|
The need to develop their abilities to the best
advantage of the profession.
|
The 3 Partners
Achieving the Training Aims is dependent on the level
of input and dedication of 3 partners:-
1. The Company
The Company provides the training opportunities and
designating staff for Scheme "A" training duties. Clearly the
company is a Key Factor in achieving the general objectives implicit in
the training aims. In this aspect Scheme "A" depends on there
being sufficient suitable practical training opportunities, of the relevant
kind, being offered by local organisations to support the type of training
required at the post-graduate professional level.
2. The HKIE
The HKIE involvement related to setting policy, co-ordination,
and the overall monitoring of the training with respect to companies and
trainees. It is of note that the success of the HKIE scheme owes much
to the camaraderie that exists within the engineering disciplines and
members' readiness to help with Scheme "A". Further, there are
advantages in the 'control' of the scheme being locally based in that
the HKIE is concerned only with local graduates; has full-time training
staff on-hand and readily available; and the geographical smallness of
Hong Kong allows easy and quick access to companies, to trainees and to
the HKIE.
3. Trainees
Trainees are expected to make the most of the learning
opportunities implicit in the training offered by their company to ensure
that their knowledge and skill is up to the standards required.
Scheme "A" Training
Philosophy
The HKIE Scheme "A" Training is intended
to be 'Learning-by-Experience' and is based on the belief that this period
is a natural progression in a trainee's education, with respect to putting
theory into practice, and thus enhancing previous academic studies in
terms of their 'real-life' application.
The underlying HKIE philosophy is that the training
experiences should be relevant and of the right level. It is considered
that there is no better way to learn than by the trainees being practically
and personally involved, in a 'hands-on' way, on their prescribed training
activities. In this context it is expected that the training experiences
will, wherever possible, be of an everyday kind normally arising within
a company.
This emphasis on 'real' (company) work helps ensure
that the training experiences are relevant and that the trainees quickly
become an active part of the 'production' process. However the concept
of trainees being 'productive' requires that training staff in their deployment
of trainees maintain a careful balance between commercial (natural company)
interests and the training needs.
The learning gained through practical experiences needs
to be reinforced by other methods of learning such as by information retrieval;
use of the media; Video/Audio programmes; self-study training packages;
attending seminars and lectures; and by reading. Much of this form of
learning will be of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) nature
and should, in general, be of a 'trainee self-motivated' kind.
To be successful the Scheme "A" training
needs to be wholeheartedly and enthusiastically undertaken by the Trainee
and the Company working, in partnership. For the Trainee this means accepting
that the value gained from the training very much rests on his or her
level of personal interest, involvement and a willingness to accept a
measure of responsibility. It is to be expected (by the HKIE) that graduate
trainees will use their intellectual abilities to:-
|
(a)
|
Identify how they can complement their formal
training by self-help.
|
|
(b)
|
Help develop their initiative and their innovative
skills.
|
|
(c)
|
Enhance their ability to retrieve and use relevant
information.
|
|
(d)
|
Use their diagnostic skills to identify problems
and offer possible solutions.
|
| (e) |
Develop a natural inquisitive sense and 'question'
'why' and 'how' things are done, with the aim of improving procedures
and thus productivity!
|
To match the nature of the continuing technological
industrial development and the consequent blurring of any clear distinction
between the engineering disciplines, it is expected that the Scheme "A"
training will include multi-disciplinary elements. In this way to widen
the experiences of the trainees so that they can better meet the technological
challenges that lie ahead.
The Scheme "A" training is designed to help
trainees develop self-confidence and have a measure of independence in
the way they think and act and in this for them to be positive and able
to stand on their own two feet!
In the final analysis the success of the training,
with respect to the calibre of the 'product', rests very largely on the
interest, enthusiasm, attitude, self-motivation and curiosity of the trainees
themselves.
|
