E-petition

I thought i'd have a really strong opinion on this but i don't.

There are many different types of engineers civil, structural, electrical, mechanical through to the more practical machine shop type of engineer. Reality is any engineer doesn't necessarily have to know what they're doing they just have to be able to work it out and make sure it'll work. That's what engineers should be able to do. I have never used a cnc machine but i am sure that i could work it out if i had the time or inclination. I had never designed a fire supression system until i did some research and worked out how to do it. Dave is spot on when he refers to graduates. Not all of them but most of them. Degrees should teach you some basic science and problem solving skills. As most of them are taught courses they don't tend to do that unless someone really has a gift or enthusiasm to learn it.

I do think that the washing machine engineer who turns up after two hours training and tells you 'the circuit boards blown' without knowing anything about how it works or having less idea than me about how to fix it devalues what engineers are but i don't think you can easily assess the practical problem solving skills you need to be an engineer with academic achievements alone so i wont be signing any petition.

Fact is you get employed for what you can do, not what you're called.

I havent got an issue with graduates being given the title.. so long as they have experiance also after a few years etc... why should someone whos done a degree in engineerig but never used it be classed as a professional engineer? and someone whos being doing it for 30 years in the real world, machining parts he designed, repairing equipment by re-wiring it, designing hydraulic/pneumatic systems for things.. programming etc not be good enough for the title?

Most graduate engineers end up as paper pushers anyhow who never open a tool box.. IMO that kind of engineer wouldnt deserve it.

Paper pushers eh? Lol doubt I'll be opening many if any toolboxes offshore but there's very good reason for that (especially when a fair few of the tools used weigh more than most combat bots). But then I wouldn't consider a good few of the guys that do use them engineers. Speaking to some roughnecks, most had no idea what the actual purpose of their task was, they were just following instructions.

No problem with people that design and implement practical solutions being called engineers. I have a problem with a mechanic being called an automotive engineer.

Good to get some debate going 8)

so... whos the more important engineer? The guy with the degree who sais i need this... to do that... or the guy who goes into his workshop with a head full of experience...comes up with a solution, makes it..and impliments it?

I think this is an interesting question perhaps we could look to great engineers of the past
See what percentage were degree educated, and how many weren't
E.G. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Or William Richard Morris?