Professional Bodies in Electro technology – New Zealand.
1.0 Introduction:
A professional body is a group of people in a learned profession entrusted with maintaining oversight and control over legitimate and ethical practices in the profession. In some countries, professional bodies play a significant role in the oversight of education and training associated with the profession, and they serve this role by accrediting and standardizing courses and curricula. Professional associations play three major roles and first among this is safeguarding public interest as related to the practice/profession they represent. Second, these bodies are also set up in the interests of the professionals they represent by acting as trade unions or professional associations (including the legitimization of restrictive practices), or as learned societies which contribute towards continued development of the profession. Finally, professional bodies represent their own self-interest by acting to cement their powerful and privileged positions as controlling bodies (Harvey, 2016).
The report shall discuss two professional bodies in electro technology in New Zealand namely the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ), and the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB). Some of the issues to be discussed in relation to these bodies include membership, academic qualifications, services offered to members, benefits of being a member, and other issues such as public interest and disciplinary action for non-compliant members.
2.0 The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ):
2.1 Overview: Organization structure and History.
The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) is a non-profit professional organization that represents the interests of engineering profession in New Zealand. The organization has over 16,000 members who practice engineering or have special interest in the field. IPENZ is led by a 12 member elected board which comprises a president and 11 board members. The IPENZ board has a responsibility of setting strategic plans and employing a chief-executive officer who is in charge of managing budget expenditure, providing services to IPENZ members and funding projects and activities as outlined in the strategy. IPENZ has its headquarters in Wellington and also has regional offices where members belong.
IPENZ history dates back to 1912 when the Institute of Local Government Engineers of New Zealand (the first engineering professional body in New Zealand) was formed. In 1913, the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers was formed with the idea that it would be more representative of the engineering practice. However, the two bodies later merged in 1914. As the society grew and the number of non-civil engineers increased, the now merged body was renamed to the New Zealand Institution of Engineers in 1937. As the number of engineering specializations continued to increase, another name change was necessary and in 1982, it was named IPENZ to indicate the significance of professional engineering standards and ethos.
2.2 Membership: Types and associated Qualifications.
2.3 Membership benefits and representation services offered
2.4 Complaints and Disciplinary measures for upheld cases.
3.0 The Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB):
3.1 Overview: Organization structure and History.
3.2 Membership: Types and associated Qualifications.
3.3 Membership benefits and representation services offered.
3.4 Complaints and Disciplinary measures for upheld cases.
4.0 Summary and Conclusion:
