What is Engineering Practice?

ENGG 701 Engineering Practice

and Experience in Canada

Engineering Practice

Engineers Canada defines engineering as

(http://careeraction.engineerscanada.ca/Tools): any act of planning,
designing, composing, evaluating, advising, reporting, directing or
supervising, or managing any of the foregoing that requires the application
of engineering principles and that concerns the safeguarding of life, health,
property, economic interests, the public welfare or the environment.
In other words, engineers use their education and experience to work to the
best of their ability, without a harmful impact to others or the environment
US Department of Labor describes engineering as the application of the
theory and principles of science and mathematics to research and develop
economic solutions to technical problems (cited in Sheppard, A.D., et al.,
Educating Engineers, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2009).
The outcome of engineering is often fabrication specifications, the creation
of production of physical artifact, changed personal or public knowledge,
new technologies, or a changed state of the human condition; Sheppard,
A.D., et al, 2009.
Engineering is simply Problem Solving.

Engineers are Designer

The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Broad (CEAB): Engineering design

integrates mathematics, natural sciences, engineering sciences, and
complementary studies in order to develop elements, systems, and processes
to meet specific needs. It is a creative, iterative, and open-ended process,
subject to constraints which may be governed by standards or legislation to
varying degrees depending upon the discipline. These constraints may also
relate to economic, health, safety, environmental, societal or other
interdisciplinary factors.
(http://www.engineerscanada.ca/sites/default/files/2014_accreditation_criteria_a
nd_procedures_v06.pdf).
The US Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) describes
engineering design as the process of devising a system, component, or
process to meet desired needs. It is a decision-making process (often iterative),
in which the basic sciences, mathematics, and the engineering sciences are
applied to convert resources optimally to meet these stated needs.
(http://www.abet.org/uploadedFiles/Accreditation/Accreditation_Step_by_Step/A
ccreditation_Documents/Current/2014_-_2015/E001%201415%20EAC%20Criteria%203-13-14(2).pdf) .

There are many fields of

Engineers

See:
http://careeraction.engineerscanada.ca/Tools/en
gineering-fields
And http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-andengineering/home.htm
What is the difference between an architect and
an engineer? A good answer can be found on
http://newschoolarch.edu/academics/school-ofarchitecture/infographic-architecture-vsengineering/

The Attributes of a Canadian

Engineer
http://www.engineerscanada.ca/sites/default/files/2014_accreditation_criteria_and_procedures_v06.pdf:

1.

2.

3.

4.

A knowledge base for engineering: Demonstrated competence

in university level mathematics, natural sciences, engineering
fundamentals, and specialized engineering knowledge appropriate
to the program.
Problem analysis: An ability to use appropriate knowledge and
skills to identify, formulate, analyze, and solve complex
engineering problems in order to reach substantiated conclusions.
Investigation: An ability to conduct investigations of complex
problems by methods that include appropriate experiments,
analysis and interpretation of data, and synthesis of information in
order to reach valid conclusions.
Design: An ability to design solutions for complex, open-ended
engineering problems and to design systems, components or
processes that meet specified needs with appropriate attention to
health and safety risks, applicable standards, and economic,
environmental, cultural and societal considerations.

The Attributes of a Canadian

Engineer (Cont.)
5.

6.

7.

8.

Use of engineering tools: An ability to create, select, apply,

adapt, and extend appropriate techniques, resources, and modern
engineering tools to a range of engineering activities, from simple
to complex, with an understanding of the associated limitations.
Individual and team work: An ability to work effectively as a
member and leader in teams, preferably in a multi-disciplinary
setting.
Communication skills: An ability to communicate complex
engineering concepts within the profession and with society at
large. Such ability includes reading, writing, speaking and listening,
and the ability to comprehend and write effective reports and
design documentation, and to give and effectively respond to clear
instructions.
Professionalism: An understanding of the roles and
responsibilities of the professional engineer in society, especially
the primary role of protection of the public and the public interest.

The Attributes of a Canadian

Engineer: Cont.
9.

10.

11.

12.

Impact of engineering on society and the environment: An ability to

analyze social and environmental aspects of engineering activities. Such
ability includes an understanding of the interactions that engineering has with
the economic, social, health, safety, legal, and cultural aspects of society, the
uncertainties in the prediction of such interactions; and the concepts of
sustainable design and development and environmental stewardship.
Ethics and equity: An ability to apply professional ethics, accountability, and
equity.
Economics and project management: An ability to appropriately incorporate
economics and business practices including project, risk, and change
management into the practice of engineering and to understand their
limitations.
Life-long learning: An ability to identify and to address their own educational
needs in a changing world in ways sufficient to maintain their competence and
to allow them to contribute to the advancement of knowledge.

ABET Outcomes

a)
b)
c)

d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)

http://www.abet.org/uploadedFiles/Accreditation/Accreditation_Process/Accreditation_Documents/Current/eaccriteria-2012-2013.pdf :

an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering

an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and
interpret data
an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired
needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social,
political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
an ability to communicate effectively
the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering
solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
a knowledge of contemporary issues
an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools
necessary for engineering practice.

International Perspective
The Washington Accord

The Washington Accord, signed in 1989, is an international

agreement among bodies responsible for accrediting engineering
degree programs. It recognizes the substantial equivalency of
programs accredited by those bodies and recommends that
graduates of programs accredited by any of the signatory bodies
be recognized by the other bodies as having met the academic
requirements for entry to the practice of engineering
(http://www.ieagreements.org/Washington-Accord/)
Signatories as of 2014: Australia, Canada , Chinese Taipei, Hong
Kong China, India , Ireland, Japan, Korea , Malaysia, New
Zealand, Russia, Singapore , South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey,
United, Kingdom, United States.

ENGG 701 Engineering Practice

and Experience in Canada
Fundamentals of practicing engineering in Canada:
1. Engineering is a profession: self-governance,
registration and licensing, code of ethics.
2. Clear thinking: Mind Mapping.
3. Engineering is team work.
4. Engineer as a project manager.
5. Engineer and design.
6. Engineer and safety.
7. Engineering and sustainability and ecology.
8. Engineering and quality assurance

ENGG 702: Engineering Practice

and Continuing Learning in the
Workplace
Engineering practice and continuing learning in the workplace in Canada.
1.
Engineer as an employee (Governments (municipal, provincial,
federal), public utilities, private sector), employer, supervisor,
manager, self-employed, consultant, sales person, regulator,
inspector, etc.
2.
Liability.
3.
Identifying knowledge gap.
4.
Learned Societies.
5.
Life-long learning and professional development.
6.
Logbook.
7.
Intellectual property.
8.
Aesthetics in Engineering.

ENGG 703 Engineering Practice,

Professional Development, Communication
and Ethical Challenges
Principles of engineering practice, professional development,
communication and ethical challenges in Canada.
1.
Professionalism.
2.
Fairness and Equity.
3.

Engineer is a communicator (non-verbal, verbal, and written):

conduct, letters, memos, reports, presentations.

4.

Crediting previous work.

Conflict of interest & commitment.
Dealing with Conflict: people, demands of budget and time,
production quality and quantity
Engineer as an expert witness.
Ethical Challenges and whistle blowing.

5.
6.
7.
8.

Engineering in the News

Current technical issues will be

discussed in view of design philosophy,
ethics, and ecological impact.

Communication with Instructor

Must be via UR Courses e-mail.

Correspondence sent to instructors
personal e-mail will not be read.
This is for organizational purposes and
to avoid losing student mail in the many
e-mail instructor receives daily.

Reference Book
G.C. Andrews, Canadian Professional Engineering and
Geoscience: Practice and Ethics, 5th Edition, Nelson
Education, Toronto, 2014.
ISBN-10: 0176509909 ISBN-13: 9780176509903 - See
more at:
//www.nelson.com/catalogue/productOverview.do?Ntt=e
ngineering+practice||209989290817668681181328595423
75962524&N=197&Ntk=nelson%7C%7CP_EPI&Ntx=mod
e+matchallpartial).

Evaluation

Attendance: 30%.
Assignments: 40%.
Essay 40%.
Late-submission Penalty:

Ten (10%) per day.

Extension Request : at least one-week in advance.
Extension Maximum : seven (7) days under all
circumstances (except medical ones).

Academic Integrity
See
http://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/gradcalendar/policy-univ.html

Cheating
Plagiarism
Other academic misconduct .
Zero tolerance in this series of courses.