Once a fortnight our ‘What It’s Like…’ series will interview a member of one of the governance boards, highlighting their work, their role in the Engineers Ireland community and advice for members interested in becoming involved. This week’s interview is with Richard Crowe, chair of the Membership and Qualifications Board.

Statutory functions and obligations

It is the responsibility of the Membership and Qualifications Board to to develop, establish and implement the policies, regulations and procedures required for the implementation of Engineers Ireland’s statutory functions and obligations in respect of the membership register and all other matters related to membership grades and registered professional titles of the institution. The board generally meets monthly.

Richard Crowe, a civil engineer, is a Chartered member and Fellow of Engineers Ireland. He became chair of the Membership and Qualifications Board in 2020 having previously been involved in its work, volunteering his time to assess and interview applicants.

Reflecting on the reasons he decided to join the board, Crowe notes that a key factor was that its work reflected his own interests and complemented his prior experiences volunteering with Engineers Ireland.

Richard Crowe, a civil engineer, Chartered member and Fellow of Engineers Ireland, became chair of the Membership and Qualifications Board in 2020

“I originally joined the Membership and Qualifications Board as chair of the Board of Examiners – a role which, also, usually involves being a member of the Membership and Qualifications Board. This helps to facilitate interaction between the two boards and enhance knowledge sharing.

"During the three-year term of that appointment I found I gained a lot of knowledge about the membership process and particularly about the non-standard routes to professional titles.

"Although I had been a member of the Board of Examiners for a number of years this was not an area I had any great knowledge in and during those three years I found I learned a great deal about the assessment of candidates following these routes.

"I found the work very interesting and it seemed a waste not to put the experience gained to good use. I volunteered for a further term on the Membership and Qualifications Board and, well, here we are.

Induction process

“It is difficult to have an induction process to the work of the board as many of the applications coming to it are unique.

"New members have the regulations, the routes to title and several guidance and explanatory notes available to them but, in the initial months of their membership, they gain a familiarity with the processes of the board through participation.

"Usually opinions on assessment of candidates are assigned to two board members for comment and then discussed at the board meeting. This allows consistency in decisions and provides a vehicle for new board members to become involved quickly in the work.”

In considering the highs and lows of participation, Crowe observes that a challenge for the board is “the increasing diversity of qualifications of those seeking membership".

Wider and more diverse service offerings

He adds: "This reflects the current trend in engineering of wider and more diverse service offerings with multidisciplinary teams doing engineering work.

"Additionally, the shortage of engineering skills experienced over the past number of years of an expanding economy has seen engineering firms recruiting graduates with cognate qualifications and hiring both graduates and experienced engineers from many nations.

“The board deals with all the non-standard [everybody who does not hold a Level 9 accredited degre] applications, and these are increasing steadily.

"The board members making the initial assessment must ensure they are fair and that the process is transparent. They must also maintain a balance between encouraging the candidates who may have a complex mix of qualifications and experience while also ensuring the regulations of Engineers Ireland are adhered to.

"This involves making sure that, in reviewing each application, we give the necessary time and attention required to thoroughly weigh up the reports presented.”

'Candidates’ career stories fascinating'

That said, there is still an equally rewarding experience for every challenging one. Crowe is quick to point out that “as with the professional title interviews and assessment, hearing candidates’ career stories and about the projects they have been involved in is fascinating. I find that reading the reports and learning about their contributions to both projects and to society a great learning experience”.

Interestingly, mentoring also plays a role in his work on the board. “Board members are always conscious of their role of encouraging candidates to participate both as members and as qualified professionals with titles, and they always strive to offer constructive advice where the submission made has deficits.

"In many instances board members have acted as mentors to prospective candidates, particularly to candidates following the experiential learning route to title. Mentoring is a very rewarding experience.”

Consequently, membership has also provided Crowe with an array of networking and learning opportunities: “The work of the board keeps me in touch with a changing world.

International agreements

"There are opportunities to gain knowledge about international agreements on qualifications that have been of value to me working in an international context. I have also gained a greater insight into Engineers Ireland and its titles which, in turn, helps in training needs analysis and mentoring within my own organisation.”

For Crowe, volunteering with the Membership and Qualifications Board has proved to be an interesting and worthwhile experience, one he would recommend to other members looking to become more involved in the Engineers Ireland community.

“It is, I believe, important for board members to be involved at the coalface of interviewing for professional titles, assessing reports or other work involving qualifications such as accreditation of academic assessment.

"That said, the work of the board is quite varied and goes beyond assessing applications. Its members are also involved in working groups on issues such as the development of new guidance documents, the development of improved application processes and the routes to membership.

"All in all, there is work to interest anybody who sees value in the role of Engineers Ireland as the voice representing engineering.”

The Membership and Qualifications Board is appointed by Council and members sit for a three-year term. Vacancies on the Membership and Qualifications Board arise as members stand down having served a term or terms.

Engineers Ireland could not function without the active participation of so many of our members who give so enthusiastically of their time and talents to serve the profession. Further information on the Engineers Ireland Membership Regulations is available here.