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.

IEM Log Book Training Scheme (Mentor-Mentee Program)

This entry is made for both Graduate Engineers applying as Mentee and Professional Engineers applying as Mentor for IEM Engineering Competency Development (ECD), previously known as Log Book Training Scheme (LBTS).

As we know, graduate engineers need to have minimum 3 years of working experience after registered with BEM, in order to qualify for application of Professional Engineer. During these 3 years, some might not have been supervised by Lead Engineer with PE (Ir. title) that he needs to go through this Log Book Training Scheme. 

The new IEM ECD Mentorship Program Log File is available on IEM website.

So, next question is what is in the logbook? There are 5 sections as below: -

Section A: Particulars of Log Book Scheme

Section B: Summary of Practical Training and Experience

Section C: Practical Training Record (3 Months Period)

Section D: Courses Attended (Advisable)

Section E: Professional Career Development Activities

There are also 5 competency categories (with total of 18 sub-categories) that Mentee has to relate to Section B (Summary of Practical Training and Experience), which are: -

Competency Category A: Engineering Knowledge Application

Competency Category B: Problem Solving

Competency Category C: Management

Competency Category D: Interpersonal Skill

Competency Category E: Professional Ethics

Each record has to be made every 3 months, which PE (Mentor) has to stamp and sign. 

As for Section C (Practical Training Record), Mentee has to attach some sort of design calculation related to his/her daily task. 

Technical attendance records for talks, visits, seminars etc. shall be recorded for Section E (Professional Career Development Activities). As some might already know, effective 15 February 2016, the 60 hours course attendance and 30 units PDP hours requirement is no longer compulsary but applicants for P.I. applicants for P.I. must demonstrate proficiency in matters related to original 4 compulsory courses: -

1. Code of Ethics

2. Engineering Management Practice

3. Occupational Health & Safety at Work, Relevant By Laws & Regulations

4. Topics related to branch of Engineering (same discipline with Mentee)

After completing 3 years of this ECD program, Graduate Engineers shall be able to proceed with PI application.

Remember that, having this 3 years of Log Book Training Scheme, does not guarantee the Mentee to pass the Professional Interview, so good luck!

MIEM Certificate and Membership Card

Today I received an email from IEM regarding my MIEM certificate and membership which now ready for collection.

I have to settle these fees before they can released the cert and card: -

If you are wondering about the Library and Building Fund, yes, it compulsary to pay for that (I have call IEM to confirm).

Route to Professional Engineer - IEM Professional Interview (PI) Result

After 1 month attending the interview, I've been emailing IEM few times for my interview results. Having no reply, I made a phone call to follow up. The secretariat said that my result will be out on this particular date (which is exactly 2 months after the interview). Only then she can tell about my result. Since that date fall on Saturday, I've been trying to call then the friday before but still, they said I have to wait. I wait for the next working day to follow up.

And finally.........

Alhamdulillah.. I made it! I pass the interview and I can proceed with my Professional Engineer application with BEM once my Corporate IEM membership certificate is out. I am so happy that I manage to pass. The official email regarding my result and the IEM certificate will be ready in about 1 month from the date of the result. I have to wait patiently and hope that I will be able to get it the soonest possible.