Recording online – e-MPDS

All MPDS recording and assessment is now completed online using e-MPDS. This replaces the paper reporting system previously used for graduates on MPDS, phased out during 2005. 

– To promote better and more consistent application of UK SPEC

– Endorsed by the Engineering Council as a QA route to professional registration and recognised as promoting best practice

– Companies have ease of monitoring on one system, regardless of engineering discipline. Immediate access for monitoring those on the scheme.

– Removes the administrative burden of paperwork for individuals, companies and the Institution

– Assists company performance review, by showing progression of each person registered on MPDS

– No company investment in IT infrastructure or software

– Easier for mentor to view and approve reports as they are all in one place

– Instantaneous submission to IMechE – no postal delays!

– Easier monitoring = more frequent monitoring = less reason for Developing Engineer to fall behind

– Delivers better value for money for company training costs

– Removes need for dual recording of paper reports within the company

– Adopting the new online method to record MPDS activity will contribute significantly toward creating openness and consistent professional standards.

e-MPDS is for

Developing Engineers: view UK-SPEC framework, make plans, submit evidence, submit reports

Mentors: view all mentees, review plans and evidence, approve reports, contribute to own CPD

Company Administrator: View all candidates and mentors on the scheme, ensure regular reporting and monitoring is taking place

e-MPDS is secure: mentors will only have access to their own candidates. Companies can only view their own candidates.

e-MPDS demonstrations

We are happy to visit your premises to give an online demonstration to familiarise mentors, Developing Engineers and scheme administrators with e-MPDS. Please see contact details at the bottom of the page.

Scheme administrators are provided with read-only access to help keep track of the progress of all graduates on a scheme, wherever they are based. This will help you to provide adequate support to the Developing Engineers and their mentors, and ensure accuracy of data between IMechE and the company. One main company log-in can be provided to the main scheme administrator, and up to four additional log-ins if needed. Please contact Jane Noakes to arrange for your access (see Contacts.)

Please distribute the e-MPDS user guide within your company and make sure all candidates and mentors read it thoroughly.

Logging on

Log-in access is through the IMechE homepage using your IMechE user name and password.

Once you are registered on the scheme your online access will become available.

e-MPDS user guide

Please make sure you read the user guides thoroughly as they provide the best introduction to the system.

They may be viewed by clicking on the links below:
e-MPDS for mentors
e-MPDS for Developing Engineers

Once you have logged on to e-MPDS download the Toolkit under ‘Help’ for advice on completing reports.

A flexible system

The online e-MPDS system is highly intuitive and requires only basic computing skills and knowledge.

e-MPDS is flexible with useful optional features. You can

- use all the functions to create plans, record evidence, and lodge reports

- or just submit the quarterly and annual assessment reports as required by the IMechE.

Other useful functions include

• recording meetings with a mentor or line manager
• a summary of all evidence submitted
• evidence can be submitted by typed text or uploading word documents, reports, spreadsheets, notes etc effectively removing the need for paper based records

An integrated system

Plans and evidence submitted on e-MPDS map through to the quarterly report. This assists with the report writing process as examples of meeting competence areas have already been provided.

The checksheet allows the Developing Engineer to see at a glance which competence areas are their strengths, and which require further development.

Cost/Fees

There is no extra fee for online access – this is included in the registration fee.

There is no fee for companies to register graduates and view their records online.

From January 2008, MPDS fees are

£120 for CEng route applicants

£90 for IEng route applicants

OR

£30 per annum

MPDS registrations fees are separate to membership subscription fees, which must be kept up to date.

If the scheme is extended beyond year 4, £30 will be payable for each subsequent year.

Fees are not refundable.

Registrants who previously paid £80 will be covered for e-MPDS up until they complete their 4th year.

Benefits

for Graduates:

· No more confusion about which form to use and no handwritten reports - all text is typed for legibility.

· Work is done via the web in an environment graduates are already familiar with.

· UK-SPEC competences are selected from drop-down menus and automatically included in quarterly reports and annual assessments.

· Easy to use and MPDS provides all reports necessary for the professional review for IEng or CEng through the IMechE.

for Mentors:

· Adds to CPD and mentors take an active part in the development and professionalism of future engineers.

· Provides a better opportunity to guide and advise the graduate in real time and play a proactive part within the graduate’s individual development process, even if business or site location requires parties to work remotely.

· The assessment of the graduate’s performance each year allows the competency evidence portfolio to be assembled as required by UK-SPEC.

for Companies:

· Training Managers may have access rights to supervise both graduate and mentor performance and assist relationship management. Free access is provided for the company scheme administrator. Contact us to request this access.

· Management of the system is simple and ensures easy supervision of the Company development system without investing large resources.

· The use of the UK-SPEC competency framework provides the opportunity for graduates of any discipline to follow similar development within one system and be discretely supervised. The reports may be submitted to any Institution when applying for professional status.

OTHER BENEFITS - RECORDS MANAGEMENT

Whilst face-to-face meetings are essential as the primary method of communication, e-MPDS has further advantages of supporting engineers in remote locations, providing online access 24 hours/7 days a week. e-MPDS also allows users to manage remotely across decentralised operations and when mentors are located across a variety of physical sites.

Importantly, paperwork is reduced and monitoring and reporting is accessible for all stakeholders, using a medium that modern graduate engineers are familiar with. An easy to access online records management system helps companies track progress or performance of each engineer registered on MPDS, adding value to employee reviews.

Contacts

Please read the FAQs thoroughly to answer your query before contacting us.

For problems creating personal log-ins to the IMechE website, contact subscriptions@imeche.org or telephone 01952 214050.

For e-MPDS issues, contact the MPDS team mpds@imeche.org or telephone 0845 226 0211.

For demonstrations and company access, contact Susan Wilding s_wilding@imeche.org or telephone 020 7973 1263