By Hifsa Raja

ISLAMABAD, July 27 : The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) – an apex engineering body – is organising webinars for professional growth of engineers as part of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme. The registered engineers receive CPD certifications in addition to credit points.

Talking to WealthPK, Ms. Aqsa Hussain, an electrical engineer from the Capital University of Science and Technology, said the Engineering Professional Development Committee (EPDC) was managing webinars for engineers.

“The purpose of organizing such seminars is to teach engineers how to apply their theoretical knowledge learned in classes in practical situations and how to innovate solutions to solve real-life problems. They are also useful for demonstrating the advantages of developing professional ethics. Seminars of this nature enable engineers to apply the management and communication skills to their professional work. The focus of these webinars is on the most recent advancements in many sectors of engineering, as well as the application of cross-disciplinary knowledge,” she explained.

Aqsa said the PEC conducted CPD activities on a regular basis which may include workshops, lectures, seminars or webinars.

‘‘The PEC publishes in advance on its website the subjects and resource persons for these webinars. All CPD activities for the registered engineers carry credit points specified in the CPD bylaws. The CPD certificates can only be requested by registered engineers for this programme. Previously, the PEC charged a nominal fee, but now these webinars are free," she said.

Ms. Aqsa said the PEC hosted a live webinar on technology in June, guiding engineers about how technology contributed to the creation of employment prospects.

“The webinar conducted on technology was titled ‘Digital Transformation and Impact of IOT on Education, Industry, Health Sector, and Society towards Creating Job Opportunities’. Engr. Prof. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry, who is also a life member of PEC, led this course. The webinar was launched by Engr Najeeb Haroon, Chairman PEC. and concluded by Prof. Dr. M. Inayat Ullah Babar, Vice Chancellor of UET Taxila. This webinar carried one credit point,” she said.

She explained that webinars for engineers encompassed engineering, technology, business, marketing skills, and career development. The last webinar was on public policy, she added.

“The most recent webinar, organized in July 26, was titled ‘Public Policy: Concepts, Issues, and Challenges from an Engineer's Perspective.’ The resource person was Engr. Dr. Rashid Aftab, Director Faculty of Public Policy, Riphah International University, and the webinar carried one credit point for engineers,” she stated.

Aqsa said a total of four webinars were conducted this month and each webinar carried one credit point each.

If an engineer attends all these webinars after registering with the CPD, he gets four credit points, she said.

“The first year after graduation is the grace period. It means the CPD will not be applicable in this period of time. The CPD is applicable from the second year after graduation. A registered engineer has to earn nine credit points by registering them on the PEC website for the CPD webinars and after attending one webinar, they get one credit point. And that is how they have to collect 12 credit points in next three years,” she said.

These webinars include personal branding and career choices for engineers, planning and design of micro hydropower plant. The next webinar was on chemical management system and the last one was on public policy.

Credits: INP-WealthPk