Joint ISTIC-UNESCO Conference on Ethics in Science

1
Joint ISTIC-UNESCO Conference on Ethics in
Science Technology.15 June 2009, Eastin Hotel,
PJ.Enculturation of Ethics for Scientists
Engineers for a Sustainable Future
ENGINEERING THE ENGINEER PROFESSIONALISM A
WAY OF LIFE -
THE VALUE OF ETHICS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION

• By Engr. Rocky HT Wong, PEng, FIEM
• Hon FAFEO cum ASEAN Engineer, Founder Fellow
  AAET, Hon Fellow (TEEAM), The Head Commissioner
  ASEAN Engineers Register, Chairman the IEM
  Pro-ETI Bureau, EAC Councilor, UTAR Industry
  Advisory Panel, IEM (Principal Interviewer), etc.
• (Representative from the BEM)

2
BACK TO BASICS
3
A Definition Of -

• 1.0 ENGINEERING is the profession in which
• A knowledge of the mathematical natural
  science
• Gained by study, experience practice
• Is applied with judgement
• To develop ways to utilise
• Economically
• The materials forces of nature
• For the benefit of mankind.

4
A Definition Of -

• 2.0 ENGINEER shall mean a person who
• By reason of his special knowledge
• And use of mathematical, physical engineering
  sciences
• And the principles methods of engineering
  analysis design
• Acquired by education and experience,
• Is qualified to practice engineering.
• An Engineer is a professional.

5

• 3.0 Characteristics of engineering students -
• A strong interest in and ability to work with
  mathematics science
• Better problem-solving skills, e.g. ability to
  think through a problem in a logical manner
• A knack for organising carrying through to
  conclusion the solution to a problem
• An unusual curiosity how why things work keen
  to be multi-skilled
• Responsible young persons with higher ambition in
  life, and who look forward to be professional
  engineers in due course.

6

• 4.0 A technical specialist, these days, more so
  an engineering services professional, may be
  referred to as either engineer, scientist,
  technologist, technician, or (in the Malaysian
  context) a TA.
• The difference between a scientist and an
  engineer is -
• The scientist primarily uses mathematical
  physical science to acquire new knowledge
• Whereas, the engineer applies similar knowledge
  to design develop usable devices, structures
  and processes.
• In short the scientist seeks to know
• the engineer aims to do.

7
GLOBALISATION REGIONALISATIONOF THE K-ECONOMY
8

• 5.0 Knowledge Society -
• A society organised around the production and
  application of knowledge with social economic,
  cultural and political implications and it
• Gives rise to knowledge-economy (i.e. K-economy)
  wherein economic value accrues from knowledge
  intensity, especially human knowledge,
  intelligence creativity become key assets for
  Services.
• The engineer well-grounded with Know-Why of
  mathematical natural sciences equipped with
  Know-How principles methods of engineering
  analysis design and the Know-What ability to
  apply technology is the fit-for-purpose K-worker
  more likely , the leader of the engineering team
  of K-workers.

9

• 6.0 The Team -
• Globalisation Regionalisation of the K-economy
  introduced the term Engineering Services
  Professionals otherwise referred to as the
  Engineering Team consisting of-
• The Engineer (benchmarked to WA)
• The Engineering Technologist (benchmarked to SA)
• The Technician (benchmarked to DA), and
• The TA / Engineering Asst ( a local grade)
• Code of Ethics apply to all the engineering
  services professionals in the team with
  engineers being additionally governed by the
  REA67 companion Registration of Engineers
  Regulation 1990 in particular Part IV the
  Code of Professional Conduct.

10

• 7.0 The engineering functions carried out by the
  Engineering Team can be in the areas as follows
  -
• Research ,
• Development,
• Design,
• Production,
• Testing
• Construction/Installation,
• Operation Maintenance,
• Sales,
• Management,
• Consulting,
• Teaching Training
• Regulators/Technical Officers
• Miscellaneous

11
ENGINEERINGASUSTAINABLE FUTURE
12

• 8.0 The Engineer -
• Focusing on The Malaysian Engineer the
  natural person who is expected to have a BEM /
  IEM recognized qualification based on an EAC
  accredited engineering programme which would have
  the breath and depth of knowledge content that
  will enable a graduate engineer to solve complex
  problems now and in future and create newer
  technology for a sustainable future.
• The enculturation of ethics for Malaysian
  engineers begins in the undergraduate years of an
  EAC accredited engineering programme.

13

• 9.0 The Graduate Engineer -
• The Engineer, on graduation, shall have acquired
  in 4 years-
• Scientific strength
• Professional competency and be
• Multi-skilled,
• Well-respected and a potential industry leader,
  and
• Morally and ethically sound.
• The sum total of which shall prepare the
  Engineer to be technically competent and a
  well-respected professional spearheading
  technology and wealth creation.
• Matching to prove ones professional standing
  with either BEM (by way of the PAE), or the IEM
  (by way of their PI), the graduate Engineer shall
  be ethical, competent, intellectual, mature and
  responsible.

14

• 10.0 Professionalism is a way of life -
• A professional person is one who engages in an
  activity that requires a specialised
  comprehensive education, and is motivated by a
  strong desire to serve humanity.
• A professional thinks acts in a manner that
  brings favour upon the individual the entire
  profession
• A professional, besides technically competent,
  shall have a positive attitude toward life that
  is continually reinforced by educational
  accomplishments professional service.

15

• 11.0 The professional engineer to have the
  following -
• Specialised knowledge skills used for the
  benefit of humanity.
• Honesty impartiality in engineering service.
• Constant interest in improving the profession.
• Support professional technical societies that
  represent the professional engineer why? Because
  the rapid development in science engineering is
  the work of technical societies.
• The engineer is a member of society, and must be
  able to integrate and socialise with the
  community at large.

16

• 12.0 COE COPC -
• The BEMs Code of Professional Conduct is Part IV
  of the 1990 Regulation What then is the
  engineering services professionals (or the
  Engineers) Code of Ethics (COE)?
• The Engineers Code of Ethics is a constellation
  of noble ideas binding the following into a
  virtuous paradigm of what a Professional Engineer
  and his upright bearing should be -
• The Profession An Engineer shall at all times
  uphold the dignity, standing and reputation of
  the profession by his behavior, action and words.
• With Colleagues An Engineer shall not
  maliciously or recklessly harm or attempt to harm
  whether directly or otherwise the professional
  reputation of another engineer, but shall however
  foster the reputation of colleagues for the
  advancement of the profession.

17

• Towards Employers and Clients An Engineer shall
  serve employers and clients with honesty, loyalty
  and integrity in conforming to the highest
  standards expected of their respective community.
• The Public An Engineer in providing his
  services shall at all times be governed by the
  paramount interest of the public, in particular
  their welfare, health, safety and environment.
• Oneself An Engineer shall maintain and enhance
  his health and competency in subscribing to self
  and continuing professional development.

18

• 13.0 What is the difference between the COE the
  COPC?
• The Engineers Code of Ethics represents the
  collective stance and the shared conviction of
  Fraternity of Engineers. The sanctity of the Code
  amounts to a Honour Pledge which when breached
  brings shame and dishonour to both the
  transgressor and the profession. There is no
  legal enforcement only self-respect and
  self-esteem, and the chosen inviolable value of
  life for someone belonging to a noble profession.
  If we dont respect ourselves, who would, - that
  is the point and the bottom-line.

19

• The BEMs Code of Professional Conduct represents
  the Law and when broken, investigation and
  disciplinary processes follow akin to the legal
  procedures of the Court. Should the respondent
  registered engineer be found to have indeed
  broken the law, his act unbecoming of a
  registered engineer will be criminalized!

20
GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE WITH GRPS IBMS
21

• 14.0 GRPs IBMS GCG
• Sustainable future, in the context of
  enculturation of an ethics programme for
  scientists and engineers vis-à-vis the welfare of
  current future generation among others, is
  primarily Good Corporate Governance (GCG).
• The equation of GCG has on the Demand Side
  Good Regulatory Practices (GRPs) as practiced by
  S.E.T. Regulators Mandarins whilst on the
  Supply End Integrity Business Management
  Systems (IBMS) are adopted by S.E.T. professional
  services providers scholars.

22

• The underpinning criteria for GRPs and IBMS are
  ethical principles as spelt out in COE in what
  ever form it may take (the FIDIC Code of Ethics
  given in Appendix I is a good case of example)
  they have similar principles which form the
  foundation of CGC and its GRPs and IBMS.
• When professionalism is a way of life and CGC is
  the expectation as part of Human Rights all
  these being possible, because enculturation of
  ethics programmes has taken root beginning in
  an EAC accredited engineering programme in the
  undergraduate years.
• Hence, the values of ethics in engineering
  education.

23
REINVENTINGTHE FUTURE?
24

• 15.0 Challenges of the future -
• The world continues to undergo rapid changes
• The huge tasks of providing energy on the one
  hand climate change on another,
• Maintaining a supply of water food vis-à-vis
  environmental sustainability,
• Rebuilding infrastructures retooling
  facilities,
• Technology of space etc..
• All these add up to challenges of the future
  which will be beyond current imagination!
• But we know one thing for sure and that is the
  need to enculturatise ethics from student days!

25

• 16.0 How about reinventing the future? A total
  transformation?
• Early engineers were more effective in leading
  change because they were fully integrated in
  society they were craftsmen and inventors with
  the engineering profession beginning as craft
  guilds technology began independently of
  science.
• The scientification of technology has reduced
  engineering to fixed formulas methodologies
  dampening creativity.
• The professionalisation of engineering has
  constrained engineers to rigid rules
  regulations standardisation!
• Along the way values may have been lost!

26

• 17.0 ENGINEERS RISE!
• Engineers should rise to the occasion lead
  social transformation by becoming once more
  imaginative responsive to societys needs
  meaning engineers can reinvent themselves
  society if we reintegrate resocialise
  contribute more to Know-What the Know-Who
  than the Know-How.
• Besides science, engineering technology, we may
  need to be students of Know-When and
  Know-Where, i.e. we need to be students of
  history geography.
• And we need the enculturation of Ethics for
  engineers for a sustainable future beginning
  with Ethics in Engineering Education!

27
THANK YOU