Integrated Schemes Approval Committee (ISAC)

Member and Assessor – Volunteer Role

Volunteer as a member and assessor of the Integrated Schemes Approval Committee (ISAC) and help shape the standards for the technicians and engineers of tomorrow.

ISAC is made up of experienced, registered engineer volunteers. Supported by IMechE staff, the Committee is responsible for conducting scheme approvals and making recommendations for apprenticeship and undergraduate placement schemes on behalf of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

Scheme approval is an external, independent assessment that provides apprentices, students, parents, and employers with confidence that a scheme meets the standards required for development towards potential registration with the Engineering Council as an Engineering Technician (EngTech) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng).

About you

To become an ISAC member and assessor, you must:

• Be a member of the IMechE
• Be registered as CEng, IEng, or EngTech
• Be working in industry or academia

Knowledge and experience of apprenticeships or the higher education sector is desirable, as is experience in assessment or auditing, but these are not essential.

What you will do

As part of the ISAC assessor pool, you will work in pairs to evaluate engineering schemes against UK benchmark standards, including UK-SPEC, AHEP, and AAQA.

Assessments determine whether successful apprentices or undergraduates:

• Are supported throughout their apprenticeship or placement
• Will gain the underpinning knowledge, understanding, and competence required for registration in a specific category upon completion

The standards are set by the Engineering Council in collaboration with industry. Approval is recognised as “a mark of assurance that programmes meet the standards set by the profession.”

How you will benefit

As an ISAC member and assessor, you will:

• Contribute to the development of future engineers and technicians
• Gain insight into apprenticeship and EngTech scheme learning and development
• Broaden your professional experience
• Expand your professional network across universities, companies, industries, countries, and professional institutions
• Earn CPD credits through your volunteer activity

How much time it will take

Committee members typically participate in up to four scheme approval assessments per year.

Assessors are also required to complete training as needed, or at least once every five years.

Where you will be

Assessments are primarily desktop-based and carried out online.

Two of the three annual committee meetings are held online via Microsoft Teams, with the third usually held in person at IMechE Headquarters.

The IMechE will cover all reasonable expenses, typically limited to travel costs for face-to-face meetings at IMechE HQ.

How it works

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute knowledge of industry practice, current engineering issues, and/or apprentice employment
• Share best practice
• Undertake approval assessments as part of a pair
• Participate in email discussions and conference calls to support assessments
• Stay up to date with Engineering Council and IMechE approval and accreditation policies
• Represent the IMechE and the wider engineering community