After completing the review of evidence submitted and providing a score for each assessment area, Industrial Advisors will be asked to consider which of the following recommendations is most appropriate:
Elect to Fellow
This can only be recommended if the applicant has APPLIED for Fellowship and has therefore been assessed against the Qualities for Fellowship. The applicant has either met or exceeded the minimum score requirement for all of the essential qualities plus two level 3 scores in the desirable qualities or one level 3 score in the desirable qualities and one level 3 score in the optional qualities.
Defer with guidance
The applicant has not met the minimum scoring requirement. From the evidence provided it is clear that more development in their role is required, but the potential for a successful application at a later date is apparent. The IA should provide guidance on areas that the applicant should seek to improve before making another application; deferrals are not time sensitive and should therefore refer to quality outcomes, rather than duration in a role.
Request additional evidence
The applicant has provided some evidence of the requirements; they seem to be working at the appropriate level, but some more evidence would reassure the IA that the application requirements can be demonstrated. The IA should provide detail of where the gaps in the application appear to be – IMechE staff will pass this back to the applicant when requesting the additional information. When the additional information is received the application will be sent back to the original IA to complete their review.
Recommend interview
Normally, the IA would have requested additional information from the applicant before recommending an interview. This option should be seen as the ‘last resort’ when an applicant appears to be operating at the appropriate level but may benefit from a face to face discussion with professional review interviewers. All recommendations for interview will first be reviewed by the Professional Review Committee (PRC) before the applicant is contacted. The PRC has the authority to elect or defer without an interview, if they deem this the most appropriate outcome. More information about the PRC process can be found later in this module. Once an applicant goes to interview the IA has no further involvement in the review process.
Not recommended
This is used when the applicant has not been able to demonstrate evidence of many of the requirements. This recommendation should be reserved for applicants who do not appear to be in a role that will allow the requirements to be developed. Often, this recommendation will be used for applicants where a promotion or change of role would be required before the requirements could be demonstrated.
Feedback
As well as providing objective commentary to explain each score awarded, IAs must also provide commentary to explain how the final recommendation has been reached. Your scores and comments will be forwarded to the Professional Review Committee for the final stage in the assessment process. More information about the PRC process can be found later in this module.