Project Engineer Adam Boyce has become the second Engineering Gateways Masters graduate in Professional Engineering to achieve Chartered Engineer status with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
When Adam joined Eggborough Power Ltd, he discussed with his employer his ambition to gain a Masters qualification. Two years later, in 2009, he and a small group of colleagues embarked on Engineering Gateways’ work-based study and professional projects with Kingston University, in order to meet the exacting academic and skilled requirements of Masters-level learning.
Now working at Drax Power Limited, Adam felt the route he took to gain his Masters, and now to achieve CEng was: “a difficult thing to do, but it’s certainly worthwhile!” and he is full of appreciation for his former employers at Eggborough for supporting him on his journey, and for Stephen Jones of Sellafield Ltd, who was his academic supervisor.
He said: “The approach was overwhelmingly positive. I was visited on-site every three months; it was good to get constructive criticism and a pat on the back when you were doing well. There was a lot of support.”
He continued: “We put a learning contract together, to make sure the projects that I was completing would be relevant to the business and in tune with my professional expectations. The MSc projects opened up new opportunities, expanding my career and experience.”
The time commitment of Engineering Gateways candidates, who are combining work and study, is significant. Adam explained: “At the outset you are not in any doubt how much effort will be involved, but you are working 10-hour days and sometimes at weekends; and you have to carry out research and write-up your projects. Combining work and study is time-consuming: you must work to a structure and be incredibly focused to complete the course.”
Stephen Jones CEng MIET AMIMechE MAPM, Adam’s MSc supervisor for Kingston University, and one of the university’s team of industry-based consultants, praised Adam’s approach to his study, and his outstanding achievements: “I met with, and coached Adam on a regular basis to monitor his progress. Adam worked on some interesting and challenging projects, involving innovative design, managing contractors and leading teams.”
“Everything Adam did throughout his course was relevant to him and his job, not just a syllabus of things he should know. His learning contract was made up of projects that he and his company would benefit from.”
“Adam has grown from a competent engineer to a world class professional engineer. Achieving chartered status is an important milestone in Adam's career and is recognition of his success.”
“The Engineering Gateways vision is to produce world class chartered engineers who stand out, and Adam has certainly achieved this.”
Mike Hope CEng, Course Director at Kingston University, commented:
“We are delighted to see Adam complete his path to CEng using our work-based MSc route. The projects Adam was engaged in provided very good springboards for achieving Masters-level learning in mechanical engineering. They enabled him to demonstrate his learning in the individual, bespoke MSc modules that we developed in consultation with him and his employer.”
Edward Hansom CEng, the Institution’s Professional Development Adviser, added his warm congratulations both on Adam’s Masters achievement and becoming a Chartered Engineer with the Institution. He outlined the significant opportunity that Engineering Gateways can offer engineers who wish to gain a Masters qualification; and the advantages for employers who support their endeavour.
He said: “Adam is the second mechanical engineer to extend his qualifications in this way, and hopefully this steady stream of achievement will inspire others to join him and Ian Henderson. Gaining a Masters through Engineering Gateways’ work-based learning is a perfectly acceptable way of meeting the academic requirements for professional registration, and these two graduates from Kingston are testament to that fact. We are delighted that Adam has become Chartered with the Institution and I am sure he will see benefits from his connection with the Institution throughout his career.”
“There are great gains, also, for employers who support their engineers through work-based study. Retaining an engineer, whose work-related projects are always useful, pertinent and relevant to the company, is a valuable factor, as the vast majority of the work that goes towards gaining a Masters and working towards professional registration feeds back into the business.”
Paul Cook, Engineering Director at Eggborough, and Adam’s former employer, also studied for his Masters alongside Adam, and knows at first-hand the exacting nature of the course: “Having recruited Adam into a position within the performance team at Eggborough, and watched him grow in experience and professionalism, I’m hugely proud of his contributions to the business. On a personal level, Adam and his colleagues inspired me to pursue my Masters qualification with them.”
“I would definitely encourage more of our young recruits to study through Engineering Gateways. The right people for the course have ambition and focus to develop themselves as engineers, and Engineering Gateways is ideal for such candidates.”
Adam registered with the Institution when he was an engineering student at Manchester University, and it was always his aim to become chartered. The main value that Adam feels he has gained in becoming CEng is the professional recognition of his achievement, for example when working with contractors within his industry. “They know that you work to professional standards and a code of ethics, and it is an industry-wide understanding.”
Adam said, of his Masters experience and professional registration: “I would definitely recommend Engineering Gateways. I discussed my experience with Eggborough colleagues before I left, and although I’m new at Drax I will, as I get to know colleagues, advocate this work-based qualification. It is a difficult thing to do, but it’s certainly worthwhile!”
Find out more about Engineering Gateways:
http://www.engc.org.uk/engineering-gateways
http://www.imeche.org/news/institution/all/2013/04/26/engineering-gateways-work-based-learning-to-masters-level