Energy Audit, Building Energy Index (BEI), Green Building Index (GBI)

 

UK Spec - Reference to BEM Outcome-Based PAE

UK-Spec explains the requirements that people must meet to become registered as a professional.

UK-Spec is recognized globally since its introduction in 2003. The document also explains the steps necessary to achieve professional registration, the requirement to maintain and enhance competence once registered, and the obligations to act with integrity and in the public interest that are placed on registrants through their membership of a licensed professional engineering institution.

What is Engineering competence?

Competence is defined as a professional’s ability to carry out engineering tasks successfully and safely within their field of practice. This includes having the individual skills, knowledge and understanding, personal behaviour and approach, to be able to work collaboratively with others to achieve the intended outcomes. Competence includes the ability to make professional judgments and an awareness of the limits of one’s own ability and knowledge in order to seek assistance when required.

Five broad areas of competence to be demonstrated as below: -

A – Knowledge and understanding - Engineers shall use a combination of general and specialist engineering knowledge and understanding to optimise the application of advanced and complex systems

The applicant shall demonstrate that they: 

1. Have maintained and extended a sound theoretical approach to enable them to develop their particular role 

2. Are developing technological solutions to unusual or challenging problems, using their knowledge and understanding and/or dealing with complex technical issues or situations with significant levels of risk.

B – Design, development and solving engineering problems - Engineers shall apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of engineering problems

The applicant shall demonstrate that they: 

1. Take an active role in the identification and definition of project requirements, problems and opportunities 

2. Can identify the appropriate investigations and research needed to undertake the design, development and analysis required to complete an engineering task and conduct these activities effectively 

3. Can implement engineering tasks and evaluate the effectiveness of engineering solutions.

C – Responsibility, management and leadership - Engineers shall demonstrate technical and commercial leadership

The applicant shall demonstrate that they: 

1. Plan the work and resources needed to enable effective implementation of a significant engineering task or project 

2. Manage (organise, direct and control), programme or schedule, budget and resource elements of a significant engineering task or project 

3. Lead teams or technical specialisms and assist others to meet changing technical and managerial needs 

4. Bring about continuous quality improvement and promote best practice.

D – Communication and interpersonal skills - Engineers shall demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills

The applicant shall demonstrate that they: 

1. Communicate effectively with others, at all levels, in English 

2. Clearly present and discuss proposals, justifications and conclusions 

3. Demonstrate personal and social skills and awareness of diversity and inclusion issues.

E – Professional commitment - Engineers shall demonstrate a personal commitment to professional standards, recognising obligations to society, the profession and the environment

The applicant shall demonstrate that they: 

1. Understand and comply with relevant codes of conduct 

2. Understand the safety implications of their role and manage, apply and improve safe systems of work 

3. Understand the principles of sustainable development and apply them in their work 

4. Carry out and record the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) necessary to maintain and enhance competence in their own area of practice 

5. Understand the ethical issues that may arise in their role and carry out their responsibilities in an ethical manner.

What is professional commitment?

Registered engineering professionals are required to demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to society, to the environment and to their profession. As part of demonstrating overall competence, it is mandatory to show that they have adopted a set of values and conduct that maintains and enhances the reputation of the profession. This includes: -

• Maintaining public and employee safety
• Undertaking work in a way that protects the environment and contributes to sustainable development
• Complying with codes of conduct, codes of practice and the legal and regulatory framework
• Managing, applying and improving safe systems of work
• Carrying out the CPD necessary to maintain and enhance competence in relation to duties and responsibilities
• Exercising responsibilities in an ethical manner
• Recognising inclusivity and diversity
• Adopting a security-minded approach
• Actively participating within the profession

Full version of UK-Spec can be downloaded here: -

https://www.engc.org.uk/media/3417/uk-spec-fourth-edition.pdf

As BEM is moving towards outcome-based assessment for PAE, it is good to have understanding on this UK-Spec. Implementation of Outcome-Based assessment is in line with global move with international engineering community.

Electrical Energy & Utilization - Demand Factor, Diversity Factor, Maximum Demand

 

BEM OUTCOME-BASED PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT EXAMINATION (PAE)

BEM OUTCOME-BASED PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT EXAMINATION (PAE)

(Will be implemented starting 1st May 2022. Fully implemented 1st January 2023)

Starting this year, BEM is implementing an outcome-based competence assessment for PAE, to be in line with the global move in the international engineering community, for international recognition and cross-border mobility.

The Registration of Engineers (Amendment) Act 2015 and The Regulations of Engineers (Amendment) Regulations 2015 have come into operation on 31 July 2015. The spirit of the Act is to support the government policy to liberalise the services sector in particular the engineering services.

5 categories of Registered Persons under BEM now as follows (refer the ones in Italic for new categories): -

1.     Accredited Checker

2.     Professional Engineer with Practicing Certificate

3.     Professional Engineer

4.     Graduate Engineer

5.     Engineering Technologist

6.     Inspector of Works

Differences between current PAE and Outcome-Based PAE: -

Current PAE	Outcome-Based PAE
Developed from a perspective of consulting engineers.	Bench-marked to current international best practices.
Practicing engineers not in consulting line hardly meet requirement for Design and Site experiences.	All engineering professions to provide open definition of design and development of solution to engineering problem based on Competence Elements.
It emphasizes length of time in management and other work experiences.	It emphasizes competence covering five (5) Competence Areas A, B, C, D, E.
It does not specify the need of evidence on competence.	Applicants required to provide evidence on competence elements as a basis for assessment.
It requires the examiners to judge subjectively by questioning whether the working experience is satisfactorily based on whatever information provided in application form and applicant’s report.	It has assessment rubrics and threshold statement guides to help examiners to match the evidence provided by applicants to the most appropriate competence level.

The following minimum requirements for design and site experience are no longer required: -

Engineering Branch and Related Sub Branches	Design Experience (Month	Site Experience (Month)
Civil Engineering	12	12
Mechanical Engineering	6	12
Electrical Engineering	12	6
Electronic Engineering	6	12
Chemical Engineering	6	6
Other Branches of Engineering	6	6

 

Differences between current PAE and Outcome-Based PAE (for Document preparation, Examination, and Essay Writing): -

Current PAE	Outcome-Based PAE
1.   Preparation of documents: -   a)   Application form (includes career history / experience write-up) b)   Project / Design Report c)   Relevant forms	1.     Preparation of documents: -   a) Application form (includes career history   / experience write-up) b) Project / Design Report   Training & Experience Report (Self- Assessment of Competence) c)  Relevant forms
2.   Examination by two examiners   a)    Interview (30 minutes – 1 hour)   i.      Questions relating to the two submitted documents ii.     What, why, engineering concepts, decision made, etc.   b)    Essay writing ( 2 questions, 1.5 hours each)   i.      Training & Experience essay ii.     Code & Ethics Essay	2.     Examination by two examiners   a) Interview (15 minutes of powerpoint presentation of selected technical work / project)   i.    Questions relating to the presentation ii.   What, why, engineering concepts, decision made, etc.   b) Essay writing   i.    Training & Experience essay ii.   Code & Ethics Essay (to be in new format based on personal experience)

 

 COMPETENCE CATEGORIES

Professional competence is grouped under five categories for assessment: -

 A. Use of a combination of general and specialist engineering knowledge and understanding for  optimizing or maximizing the application of existing and emerging technologies.

B. Application of appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of     engineering problems.

C. Demonstration of technical and commercial leadership through planning and managing works, resources and quality.

D. Demonstration of effective communication and interpersonal skills.

E. Demonstration of a personal commitment to professional standards, recognizing obligations to     society, the profession and the environment.

Each of the five competence categories consists of several competence elements to be assessed directly.

Competence categories A, B, C and D will be assessed during oral interview. However, Competence category E will be assessed through a written examination.

 

GUIDANCE FOR REPORT WRITE-UP: -

·         Focus on your individual achievement, not what the team did

·        Use phrases such as “I particapted”, “I designed”, “I achieved”, “I involved”, etc. instead of       saying “we participated / we designed” etc.

·         Use terms that can be understood by a non-specialist in your field.

 

For more detail information on the requirement and application, refer below link of BEM website:

1.   For requirement and procedure

http://bem.org.my/documents/20181/183211/NEW+REQUIREMENTS+%26+PROCEDURE+FOR+PAE+APPLICATION.pdf/

2.   For online registration

https://engineer.org.my/Application/My

3.   Registration of Engineers Regulations 1990 (Revised 2015) [REG 2015]

http://bem.org.my/documents/20181/43360/REG2015.pdf/7800531b-9183-47ac-913b-a69a0f9c1ecd

 4.   REA2015 & REG2015 Book (Second Edition) with Explanatory Notes

http://bem.org.my/documents/20181/43360/REA2015_REG2015%28Final%29.pdf/56fdf3b6-2f31-4e0b-8279-bb6646412c7f

 

Route to Professional Technologist Part 2

Unfortunately I have mistakenly deleted my original post of Route to Professional Technologist part 2.

Let me share again part of the post that I managed to screenshot previously. This is the timeline of my application (for reference only) - yours might be different. 

Questions been asked during the interview session is nothing related to your technical experience, but asking you to demonstrate that you have the necessary competence to fulfil your role as an engineer, your commitment to being a professional and that you have the work ethic that employers value.

You can make reference to UK-Spec for preparation: -

https://www.engc.org.uk/engcdocuments/internet/Website/UK-SPEC%20third%20edition%20(1).pdf

A professional technologist shall be able to demonstrate: 

•  The theoretical knowledge to solve problems in developed technologies using well proven       analytical techniques 

•  Successful application of their knowledge to deliver engineering projects or services using     established technologies and methods 

•  Responsibility for project and financial planning and management together with some             responsibility for leading and developing other professional staff

•  Effective interpersonal skills in communicating technical matters

•  Commitment to professional engineering values.

Route to Professional Technologist (Ts., P.Tech) by MBOT Part 1

Ts. title sounds interesting enough? Wait! You need to register for Graduate Technologist first before you can apply for Professional Technologist. 

So, how to apply and what is the requirement.

For Graduate Technologist, the requirement is to have a Bachelor Degree or higher in the related Technology Fields which is recognized by the Board. The fee to apply for Graduate Technologists is RM50, which is a lifetime membership fee and no yearly renewal is required for Graduate Technologists. Candidates can register and make payment online through MBOT’s website.

To-date, MBOT has recognized 23 Technology and Technical Fields. These technology fields are not permanent and will dynamically change based on the rapid growth of technology. 

Here are the list of the 23 fields recognized: -

So, to apply, you can visit this link and fill up your application: -

https://www.mbot.org.my/member/registration/?at=Graduate%20Technologist

Hotel / Resort / Homestay Review : Muo Resort, Muar

I came across this place when I was browsing through agoda website for hotel to stay during my trip to Muar. Looking at the good review, I decided to give a try.

picture source: google

If you getting bored staying at high rise type of hotel, go and have a short vacation here. It is located in Muar town. You will never expect to see this kind of resort in town.
I booked a deluxe double room and get a room just next to reception area.

picture source: google

There are chairs and tables in front of our room that we can have a rest while enjoying the night view. It is so peaceful and windy. We had a very good sleep that night, the pillow and mattress are super comfy up to 5 star hotel standard! Pillows are available for purchase too. We bought 2 pillows cause the price is reasonable. 

Breakfast can be ordered day before and there are 2 choices to choose from. It is only RM10/set. We can also eat the breakfast at the area in front of our room. 

picture source: google

The room with the glass wall area is where the karaoke room located. You can book the room with additional charges and enjoyvthe karaoke session with your family. 

There is also mini zoo at the back of the resort. Kids can enjoy as they are rabbits, deers and other animals too. 

Overall, I am very satisfied with my stay and planning to spend few days there again someday.