Memorial, PEGNL team to educate future engineers
Mark Fewer had a simple, but pressing, message for the group of students he visited on Thursday, Oct. 13 at Memorial University.
Addressing a group of graduate students from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Mr. Fewer's goal was to educate the men and women on the exact steps they need to take in order to become licensed, practicing, professional engineers in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Fewer is the deputy registrar and chief operating officer with the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL), the organization that regulates the engineering profession in the public interest, as promulgated in the Engineers and Geoscientists Act 2008 of Newfoundland and Labrador.
He spoke to a large contingent of international graduate students from Memorial about how they become properly registered and accredited by PEGNL after they finish their master and doctorate degrees from Memorial's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
"For this particular group of individuals, the most important thing for them to take home is everything starts with a bachelor degree. There are some misconceptions that master degrees can be substituted for bachelor degrees, but that's not the case," said Mr. Fewer. "Graduate degrees can be counted for other things, but you need to assess step one first, which is the bachelor degree."
For the international students in attendance, Mr. Fewer's presentation was much appreciated. He explained how a student with an educational background from another country goes about registering with PEGNL, taking time to answer specific questions relating to individual student's education and work history.
Although engineering students with bachelor degrees from Memorial University must also meet several requirements to achieve PEGNL certification, international students with degrees from outside universities can sometimes face unique circumstances.
"Sessions like this are critical to these students," Mr. Fewer said. "These are future practicing engineers in our province and in our country. It's critical they understand the requirements because without meeting the requirements, they can't be licensed, practicing professionals."
The event was organized by the Engineering Graduate Students Society (EGSS), a student organization founded in 2002 with an aim to support the graduate students in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science in an academic and social capacity.
Mr. Fewer praised the students who attended the presentation for their eagerness to learn the steps necessary to become licensed engineers, as did Dr. Leonard Lye, professor and associate dean, graduate studies, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
"PEGNL ensures the engineering profession in our province will be competent and makes certain the ethical practices of engineering and geoscience in Newfoundland and Labrador are met. It is a group that builds public confidence, sustainability, and stewardship of the professions," said Dr. Lye. "That's why I was so pleased to see a strong turnout from our graduate student community. Many of these students are very close to completing their master and doctorate degrees and will soon be taking the necessary steps toward becoming licensed engineers in this province."
PEGNL lists public safety, responsible self-governance, high technical and ethical standards and integrity as some of its core values, as well as the education and career development of its members.
Mr. Fewer said an important goal of the organization is to make sure engineering students are not surprised by the steps needed to register with PEGNL after graduation.
"People can be caught off guard by some of the requirements they have to meet," Mr. Fewer said. "That's why we want to partner with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science for presentations like this one today; to help the students understand what steps they need to take in order to become licensed professional engineers."
