Conference on Accreditation of Engineering Degree Programmes by the Institution of Engineers

Mauritian engineers are preparing for the world’s highest accreditation. The Institution of Engineers (Mauritius) organized on Tuesday February 14 a workshop at the Voilà Hotel, Bagatelle on the program it is undertaking for accreditation to the Washington Accord.

Professor Barry Clarke, former president of the UK Institution of Civil Engineers, supervised these workshops and was responsible of the submission his report to the relevant bodies.

The PS of the Ministry of Education, Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs. N. Goorah, congratulated the IEM for this initiative. She said, as seen by the declining level of university graduates, the ministry is seriously considering raising entry requirements for students.

The President of the IEM, Raj H. Prayag, described the steps taken by the Association for the recognition of engineering diplomas awarded by Mauritian tertiary institutions. He emphasized the imperative that the Board of Accreditation for Engineers to respect a complete autonomy vis-à-vis any other institution.

Prof B.G. Clarke, past President of UK Institution of Civil Engineers, delivered a speech on the role of engineers in addressing society’s challenges. He stated that “engineers transform people’s lives by creating the lifelines that society relies on, producing a safe environment in which to live and providing the tools they use.” According to him, a graduate must develop a habit of mind to cope with changes and uncertainty ahead. “Graduate attributes and professional competencies are a public demonstration of the ability of engineers to deliver what society relies on to create a sustainable future in an increasingly complex world where engineers operate globally,” he underlined. 

Other major participants the workshop were Jean Roland Fayolle, Chairman Council of Registered Professional Engineers, Prof Sid Nair, Executive Director, Tertiary Education Commission, Mauritius, JagadishSoobarah, Vice-President Aeronitical Society of Mauritius, Prof Toolseeram Ramjeawon, Head of Department of Civil Engineering, UOM and R. Gungoosing, Consultant Engineer.